Clinical comparison between diode laser and scalpel incisions in oral soft tissue biopsy

Abstract EN

Aims of the study : To compare the new diode laser (1064nm) incision with conventional blade inci-sion wounds after oral soft tissue biopsy in terms of haemostasis, local anesthetic required, duration of incision and post operative pain.

Materials and Methods : This study was conducted in the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Department at College of Dentistry / University of Mosul and Oral and Maxil-lofacial Surgery Department in Al-Salam Teaching Hospital between February 2010 and May 2010.

Thirty patients were enrolled and divided into two groups, each consisted of fifteen patients.

The first group included fifteen patients requiring biopsy (based on their indications for biopsy) in the oral cavi-ty, where the incision was done using surgical blade no.15.

The second one included fifteen patients who needed biopsy in the oral cavity (based on their indications for biopsy), here the incision was made by using diode laser (FOXTM, A.R.C.

laser, Germany) wavelength 1064nm with output power (3.5Watt) CW in contact with the tip of bare fiber (200micron).

All biopsies in the two groups were excisional and done under local anesthesia using infiltration technique.

Results : In comparison be-tween the two groups: the amount of local anesthetic required in the second group (diode laser wound group 0.73 ml) was less than that required by the first group (blade incision wound group 1.6 ml) and showed statistically high significance at p value < 0.05.

The mean of the difference in the weight of the gauze before and after the operation in the second group (0.16 gm) was less than the difference in the weight of the gauze in the first group (0.96 gm) which showed statistically high significance at p value < 0.05.

The mean of the duration for incision was statistically not significant between the two groups and the mean of pain score at the first post-operative day was statistically significant in the second group in comparison to the first group but there was no statistical difference in the pain score level at the third postoperative day between the two groups.

Conclusion : The use of Diode (1064nm) laser to perform oral biopsy has several advantages over the blade incisions wound including less amount of local anesthesia required, enhanced haemostasis (suturing after surgery was not necessary), minimal Clinical Comparison between Diode Laser and Scalpel Incisions in Oral Soft Tissue Biopsy postoperative pain.