The healing of tissues incised by a carbon-dioxide laser

Abstract

Abstract The healing of surgical incisions made with a carbon-dioxide laser, cutting diathermy, and scalpel has been compared. Laser and diathermy incisions of skin healed more slowly than scalpel wounds, but no such delay occurred in incisions of the abdominal wall. It is suggested that the differences result from terminal necrosis of the wound edges and variations in the sequence of wound repair.