Piezoelectric bone surgery is a process that utilizes

piezoelectric Piezoelectricity (, ) is the electric charge that accumulates in certain solid materials—such as crystals, certain ceramics, and biological matter such as bone, DNA, and various proteins—in response to applied Stress (mechanics), mechanical s ...

vibrations in the application of cutting bone tissue. The process was patented by Fernando Bianchetti, Domenico Vercellotti, and Tomaso Vercellotti. It was first used clinically in 1988. It is indicated for use in oral, maxillofacial, cranial and spinal procedures; but is mainly used in

orthodontics Orthodontics is a dentistry specialty that addresses the diagnosis, prevention, management, and correction of mal-positioned teeth and jaws, and misaligned bite patterns. It may also address the modification of facial growth, known as dentofacial ...

and

craniofacial surgery Craniofacial surgery is a surgical subspecialty that deals with congenital and acquired deformities of the head, skull, face, neck, jaws and associated structures. Although craniofacial treatment often involves manipulation of bone, craniofacial su ...

. By adjusting the

ultrasonic Ultrasound is sound waves with frequencies higher than the upper audible limit of human hearing. Ultrasound is not different from "normal" (audible) sound in its physical properties, except that humans cannot hear it. This limit varies fr ...

frequency of the device, it is possible to cut hard tissue while leaving

soft tissue Soft tissue is all the tissue in the body that is not hardened by the processes of ossification or calcification such as bones and teeth. Soft tissue connects, surrounds or supports internal organs and bones, and includes muscle, tendons, ligam ...

untouched by the process. The ultrasonic frequency is modulated from 10, 30, and 60 cycles/s (Hz) to 29 kHz. The low frequency enables cutting of mineralized structures, not soft tissue. Power can be adjusted from 2.8 to 16 W, with preset power settings for various types of bone density. The tip vibrates within a range of 60–200 µm, which allows clean cutting with precise incisions. Recent articles on the topic of

piezoelectricity Piezoelectricity (, ) is the electric charge that accumulates in certain solid materials—such as crystals, certain ceramics, and biological matter such as bone, DNA, and various proteins—in response to applied mechanical stress. The word ''p ...

have named piezoelectric surgery as one of the most important applications of this concept, in addition to medical

ultrasound imaging Medical ultrasound includes diagnostic techniques (mainly medical imaging, imaging techniques) using ultrasound, as well as therapeutic ultrasound, therapeutic applications of ultrasound. In diagnosis, it is used to create an image of internal ...

. Recently, the Malhotra laboratory at

Penn Neurosurgery Penn may refer to: Places England * Penn, Buckinghamshire * Penn, West Midlands United States * Penn, North Dakota * Penn, Oregon * Pennsylvania ** Penn, Pennsylvania * Penn Lake Park, Pennsylvania * Penn Township (disambiguation), several munici ...

has published additional work on this procedure for rare

cancer Cancer is a group of diseases involving abnormal cell growth with the potential to invade or spread to other parts of the body. These contrast with benign tumors, which do not spread. Possible signs and symptoms include a lump, abnormal b ...

s of the

spinal column The vertebral column, also known as the backbone or spine, is part of the axial skeleton. The vertebral column is the defining characteristic of a vertebrate in which the notochord (a flexible rod of uniform composition) found in all chordates ...

References

External links

* Detchou DK, Dimentberg R, Vaughan KA, Kolster R, Braslow BM, Malhotra NR. Navigated Ultrasonic Osteotomy to Aid in En Bloc Chordoma Resection via Spondylectomy. World Neurosurg. 2020 Nov;143:319-324. doi: 10.1016/j.wneu.2020.08.021. Epub 2020 Aug 10. PMID: 32791231. Detchou DK, Glauser G, Dimentberg R, Schuster JM, Malhotra NR. Case Series of Ultrasonic Navigated Osteotomy for the Treatment of Spinal Chordomas. World Neurosurg. 2021 Mar 8:S1878-8750(21)00367-3. doi: 10.1016/j.wneu.2021.03.001. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 33706017. Orthopedic surgical procedures {{Surgery-stub

See also

References

External links