Mechanical properties of normal skin and hypertrophic scars

• Published in: Burns Vol. 22; no. 6; pp. 443 - 446
• Main Authors: Clark, J.A., Cheng, J.C.Y., Leung, K.S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.09.1996; Elsevier Science
• 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; Burn; Human; Skin disease; Relation; Scar; Morphology; Elasticity; Mechanical properties; Clinical investigation; Trauma; Comparative study; Hypertrophy
• ISSN: 0305-4179; 1879-1409
• DOI: 10.1016/0305-4179(96)00038-1

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.