Diode Laser VS ND:YAG Laser for Spine Surgery

Percutaneous Laser Disc Decompression and Nucleotomy has been performed at moment worlwide on more than 60000 patients. The more used lasers were KTP 532nm, Ho:YAG 2100nm, Nd: YAG 1064nm. Their combined success rate (excellent/good to fair) according to Macnab and Oswestry score were more than 80%, with a complication rate of less than 1.5%(7,8,9). In order to obtain a good result it is very important not only a proper selection of the patients, but also a good choice of the laser used.

With regard the use of the Diode 980nm, we believe to be the best and more advanced laser in the treatment of disc herniation, related to the optimal water absorption. Because 980nm is 10 times more absorbent than 810nm and 5 times more absorbent than 1064nm, requiring less laser energy; this implies less heat diffusion in surrounding tissues and no undesirable side effects. A first introduction of Diode 940nm in disc herniation treatment has been performed in 1998 by Hellinger (10) in a prospective randomized study versus Nd: YAG 1064nm. The overall success rate (90%) confirm the proper use of Diode in order to decompress the nerve root by disc herniation. Nakai (11) also confirmed in an experimental study with a Diode 810nm, that Diode is less aggressive in the surrounding tissue, preserving the end plate and the vertebral body from any damage. No secondary changes on the intervertebral disc and adiacent vertebral body after Diode laser disc irradiation were detected.

Experimental studies performed both on human and specimen lumbar discs using the Diode laser 980nm showed an absorption of laser light of 90.27% in the disc and a retraction of about 55% (+/- 1.7) On 2.7mmq of the tissue after laser treatment

For these reasons the Authors believed using the specially designed and optimised Diode 980nm Laser
 in the treatment of disc herniation, confirming the overall success rate of the literature (7,8,9,13,14), without any complications related to heat diffusion in surrounding tissues (aseptic discitis and spondilytis, bladder injuries, vascular injuries to the abdominal cavity, abdomen injuries).

Welcome to contact donna@gigaalaser.com to get more details.