Experimental laser stapedectomy. Scanning electron microscopy studies

: The results of experimental tests performed upon 16 human stapes taken from cadavers were presented. The aim of the experiment was to define optimal parameters of laser stapedotomy. The less harmful range of argon laser energy for making the hole 0.6 mm diameter in the stape footplate was determined. There were two zones of tissue damage around the footplate's hole seen in scanning microscope. The internal area was made of carbonized tissue. The osseous tissue of the external zone had cavernous-cystic structure and lamellar stratification.