- THIS MATERIAL IS PUBLISHED AND PROTECTED BY U.S. 
COPYRIGHT LAW - REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED UNLESS 
FOR PERSONAL USE, EXCEPTING AUTHOR PERMISSION - 

 
Peter F. Kelly, D.P.M., F.A.C.F.A.S.  
  
Diplomate, American Board of Podiatric Surgery  
Fellow, American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons  


Lasers in Surgery and Medicine, Supplement 4, 1992, Abstracts 
 
American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery, 
Twelfth Annual Meeting
 
No. 340, Pg. 76 
 
  
Nd:YAG CONTACT TIP Vs. COLD STEEL APPLICATIONS IN  
PODIATRIC FOOT AND ANKLE SURGERY  
  
This study presents clinical results of Podiatric invasive surgical  
procedures performed using the Nd:YAG Contact-tip laser scalpel and  
conventional cold steel scalpel.  The study was of a simultaneous and  
concomitant nature with 185 total patients in two groups sustaining  
identical surgical procedures.  This enables a significantly less  
retrospectively biased analysis of the possible efficacy of the YAG  
Contact-tip Laser for invasive Podiatric applications.	The study was  
prospective from the onset.  
  
A significant patient volume (n=186 patients) was essential to minimize 
data variations and achieve scientific validity.  Patient populations were 
simultaneously monitored in this study and results recorded 
concurrently.  These results will be presented as follows:  significant 
differences found in microscopic bleeding contributing to postoperative 
edema (-37%), reduction in disability time (-23%), and postoperative 
pain (-41%).  No statistically significant differences were found in 
macroscopic bleeding (-8%), possibly secondary to vascular reflex 
hyperemia from ankle tourniquet use, or postoperative infection (-0%).  
  
Because literature is sparse in the application of the Nd:YAG laser  
scalpel within the discipline of Podiatry, this research is currently  
continued by means of independent verifications and reproducibility of  
results. 

PETER F. KELLY, D.P.M., F.A.C.F.A.S.   
  
The Western Virginia Laser Center   
Roanoke, VA