Open AccessA Microscopic and Biomechanical Study of Skin and Soft Tissue After Repeated Expansion
Author(s) -
HUO RAN,
YANG WANG,
SHANGBIN LI,
TINGTING LENG,
YANG ZHAO,
FENG GAO,
QINGPING YU,
WENHAO ZHANG
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
dermatologic surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.659
H-Index - 125
eISSN - 1524-4725
pISSN - 1076-0512
DOI - 10.1111/j.1524-4725.2008.34385.x
Subject(s) - tissue expansion , soft tissue , repeated measures design , medicine , biomechanics , stress (linguistics) , anatomy , biomedical engineering , pathology , surgery , mathematics , linguistics , statistics , philosophy
BACKGROUND Conventional expansion inadequately restores damaged skin for patients with large areas of skin deficiency or who lack sources of normal skin. These patients require repeated skin expansions, but little is known about the outcomes of this procedure. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the microscopic changes and biomechanical properties of skin and soft tissue after repeated expansion. MATERIALS AND METHODS We prepared three groups of six pigs each: a conventional expansion group, a repeated expansion group, and a blank nonsurgical control group. We measured histology, ultrastructure, basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), stress–strain, stress relaxation, and stress strength. RESULTS Skin obtained after conventional expansion and repeated expansion was basically healthy, but the microscopic and biomechanical properties differed from those of nonexpanded skin, especially in the repeated expansion group. CONCLUSION Repeated skin expansion involves growth under stress, simultaneous injuries, and further repairs, with fibers showing more injury signs than cells. This article describes the microscopic changes and biomechanical properties that occur after repeated expansion.