Human Skin WoundWelding Using 980 nm Diode Laser: an in Vitro Experimental Study

Abstract

Laser assisted skin wound closure offers many distinct advantages over conventional closure
techniques. The objective of this in vitro experimental study, carried out at the Institute of Laser for
Postgraduate Studies/Baghdad University, was to determine the effectiveness of 980 nm diode laser in
welding of human skin wounds. Multiple 3-4 cm long full thickness incisions in a specimen of human
skin obtained from the discarded panniculus of an Abdominoplasty operation were tried to be laser
welded using a 4 mm spot diameter laser beam from a 980 nm diode laser at different laser parameters
and modes of action. The tensile strength at the weld site was analyzed experimentally. Although laser
assisted wound welding did actually happen at many laser parameter settings, it was not strong enough to
be clinically useful in living human beings. Despite the 980-nm diode laser system has proved to be an
effective way of wound welding but it the weld was of low tensile strength to withstand living patient
normal daily activity and movement. It can really shorten the operative time required to close a wound if
proper laser parameters were used among an endless effective combinations of parameters. Further future
studies are highly recommended on live human beings