Neural outcomes after plasma knife dissection: a pathologic study and clinical correlation.

Background: The initial aim was to determine the rate of pathologic tissue damage when dissecting the rat sciatic nerve with either bipolar forceps or low-temperature tripolar plasma knife. The second aim was to determine the safety and effectiveness of the plasma knife during parotid surgery.

Methods: A prospective, randomized, single-blind study was performed on 40 rat sciatic nerves dissected by either bipolar electrocautery with a cold knife or a plasma knife.