Effect of nonablative laser energy on joint capsular properties: an in-vitro study using a rabbit model

Recent scientific studies evaluating laser energy for tissue welding and thermokeratoplasty have demonstrated that the application of laser energy at non-ablative levels can alter collagen's structural and biochemical properties. A recent pilot study has demonstrated that the non-ablative application of holmium: yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Ho:YAG) laser energy to the joint capsule of patients with glenohumeral instability shrank the joint capsule, stabilizing the shoulder in the majority of the patients treated. Based on the collective findings of these studies, we hypothesized that thermal modification of dense collagenous tissues such as joint capsule, ligament, and tendon can be achieved by applying non-ablative laser energy. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of laser energy at non-ablative levels on joint capsular mechanical, biochemical, histological, and ultrastructural properties in an in vitro rabbit model.