Mechanical properties of normal skin and hypertrophic scars

The non-linear viscoelastic properties of skin tissue were characterized by modulus of elasticity E, which represents stiffness, and percentage extension (strain, ϵ) at load intensities of 20, 40 and 100 gm. The latter property is a measure of the extensibility for both normal skin and hypertrophic...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Burns 1996-09, Vol.22 (6), p.443-446
Main Authors: Clark, J.A., Cheng, J.C.Y., Leung, K.S.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Biological and medical sciences
Burns
Burns - complications
Cicatrix, Hypertrophic - etiology
Cicatrix, Hypertrophic - physiopathology
Elasticity
Humans
Medical sciences
Pliability
Skin - physiopathology
Skin Physiological Phenomena
Space life sciences
Traumas. Diseases due to physical agents
Tropical medicine
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Summary:The non-linear viscoelastic properties of skin tissue were characterized by modulus of elasticity E, which represents stiffness, and percentage extension (strain, ϵ) at load intensities of 20, 40 and 100 gm. The latter property is a measure of the extensibility for both normal skin and hypertrophic scar. A quasi-static extensometer applies a standard rate of extension to the skin and its mechanical properties were obtained from 15 Chinese patients with burn injuries of superficial to full skin thickness burns. Clinical evaluation of hypertrophic scar is qualitative and depends on colour, thickness and hardness or firmness. Using mechanical properties assists in the characterization by providing a quantitative indicator. Higher scar grading is synonymous with increased stiffness and decreased extensibility. Correlation with clinical assessment was achieved with these in vivo viscoelastic properties.
ISSN:0305-4179
1879-1409
DOI:10.1016/0305-4179(96)00038-1