Functional and Physical Outcomes following Use of a Flexible CO₂ Laser Fiber and Bipolar Electrocautery in Close Proximity to the Rat Sciatic Nerve with Correlation to an In Vitro Thermal Profile Model

Figure 6

Luna stain of nerve sections is shown for 30 MALIS parallel to the nerve ((a), (b)) and 40 MALIS perpendicular to the nerve ((c), (d)). Forceps tips were 0.5 mm deep and were touching the nerve. The left column shows sections at low magnification; the right column shows the same samples at a higher magnification. Tissue damage is indicated by the red Luna stain but does not visibly extend to the nerve itself. Calibration bars are 200 μm.

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)