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Relationship of Wound Closing Tension to Scar Width in Rats

MAJ Lawrence P. A. Burgess, MC; Maj Garrison V. Morin, MC; CPT Michael Rand, VC; Jafar Vossoughi, PhD; COL Jeffrey O. Hollinger, DC

Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 1990;116(7):798-802.

Abstract
• A study was conducted to better define the relationship between closing tension and the resulting scar width of incisional wounds. Five groups of 10 hairless rats each were studied. Transverse wounds were created and closed on the back of each rat, with closing tension varied by excising amounts of skin in widths of 0 (control), 15, 30, 45, and 60 mm. At 28 days, the scar width was measured by three methods: digital caliper, photographically, and histologically. Results showed that wounds closed under the highest tension (60-mm excision group) had significantly wider scars than controls by all three measurement techniques. Regression analysis of the caliper scar width as determined by squaring the closing tension resulted in a nonlinear equation resembling an exponential curve that "best fit" the variables.

(Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 1990;116:798-802)

Author Affiliations
USA; USAF; USA; USA

From the Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Service (Drs Burgess and Morin), the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (Dr Rand), and the US Army Institute of Dental Research (Dr Hollinger), Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, DC, and the Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of the District of Columbia (Dr Vossoughi).

Footnotes
Accepted for publication February 8, 1990.

Presented at the annual fall meeting of the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, New Orleans, La, September 22, 1989.

The opinions and assertions contained herein are the private views of the authors and are not to be construed as official or as reflecting the views of the Department of the Army or Department of Defense of the United States of America.

Reprint requests to the Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Service, Tripler Army Medical Center, ATTN: HSHK-DSH, Tripler, HI 96859-5000 (Dr Burgess).

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