COMPATIBILITY OF THE ARGON AND KTP LASERS WITH MIDDLE-EAR IMPLANTS

Visible-spectrum lasers (argon, KTP) are becoming common tools in otol ogy. Concern over transmission of disease by homograft tissue has focu sed attention on synthetic materials such as Silastic(R), Polycel, hyd roxylapatite, and Teflon(R). This study sought to determine the effect s of argon and KTP lasers on materials used in stapes and chronic ear surgery. Silastic sheeting, hydroxylapatite and polycel total ossicula r replacement prostheses (TORPs) and partial ossicular replacement pro stheses (PORPs), and platinum wire/Teflon stapes prostheses were expos ed to argon and KTP laser energy at clinical power settings. Effects o f the two lasers were similar. The presence of pigment (char or blood) was necessary to produce any effect. Silastic transmitted energy to u nderlying material. Hydroxylapatite cracked and shattered. Polycel vap orized and melted, as did Teflon. Clinical implications of these inter actions on primary and revision otologic surgeries will be discussed.