SURGICAL REMOVAL OF DORSAL WRIST GANGLION WITH A NEW LASER SCALPEL

A novel laser scalpel, consisting of a clad conically-sculptured silic a tip (core diameter: 600 mu m; end diameter: 150 mu m) transmitting r adiation from a 10 W CW Nd-YAG laser, was used for the excision of a d orsal wrist ganglion. The dynamic range of this instrument (17-57 kW c m(-2)) easily suffices for the cutting of soft tissues, which feature is combined with impressive haemostatic properties, thus obviating the need for tourniquet control. Morphological examination of the excised ganglion reveals a peripheral zone of heat-damaged collagenous tissue containing vessel profiles which show signs of thermally-induced bloo d flow stasis.