The soft tissue response to contaminated and cleaned titanium surfaces using CO2 laser, citric acid and hydrogen peroxide. An experimental study in the rat abdominal wall

The soft tissue response to clinically retrieved and decontaminated cover screws was evaluated in a rat model. The cover screws were cleaned by using citric acid, sterile water, hydrogen peroxide and CO2 laser alone or with a combination of these. In addition, decontaminated but not cleaned and unused cover screws were used as negative and positive controls, respectively. After cleaning the cover screws were implanted in the abdominal wall of the rat for 6 weeks. The thickness of the fibrous capsule and the number of macrophages within the capsule were measured by means of light microscopical morphometry. As compared to the negative control, CO2 laser on dry surface, CO2 laser + hydrogen peroxide and the positive control had statistically significant thinner fibrous capsules. As compared to the positive, only laser alone resulted in a similar tissue response. It is concluded that CO2 laser used alone or in combination with hydrogen peroxide may be used clinically for sufficient decontamination of titanium surfaces.