A New Skin Tensiometer Device: Computational Analyses To Understand Biodynamic Excisional Skin Tension Lines

A New Skin Tensiometer Device: Computational Analyses To Understand Biodynamic Excisional Skin Tension Lines

One of the problems in planning cutaneous surgery is that human skin is anisotropic, or directionally dependent. Indeed, skin tension varies between individuals and at different body sites. Many a surgeon has tried to design different devices to measure skin tension to help plan excisional surgery, or to understand wound healing. However, many of the devices have been beset with problems due to...

Biodynamic Excisional Skin Tension (BEST) Lines: Revisiting Langer’s Lines, Skin Biomechanics, Current Concepts in Cutaneous Surgery, and the (lack of) Science behind Skin Lines used for Surgical Excisions

Surgical literature is inundated with references to Langer’s Lines, Cleavage Lines, Wrinkle Lines and Skin Tension Lines. The author undertakes a detailed literature review to understand the “state-ofthe art” regarding skin lines in cutaneous surgery and puts forward a hypothesis that incisional and excisional lines are different. While the lines mentioned above are fine for making incisions, w...

Biodynamic Excisional Skin Tension Lines for Excisional Surgery of the Lower Limb and the Technique of Using Parallel Relaxing Incisions to Further Reduce Wound Tension

Non-invasive evaluation of skin tension lines with elastic waves.

BACKGROUND Since their discovery by Karl Langer in the 19th Century, Skin Tension Lines (STLs) have been used by surgeons to decide the location and orientation of an incision. Although these lines are patient-specific, most surgeons rely on generic maps to determine their orientation. Beyond the imprecise pinch test, there remains no accepted method for determining STLs in vivo. METHODS (i) ...

Estimating dynamic skin tension lines in vivo using 3D scans

Skin tension lines, defined as the lines of maximal tension, often provide guidelines for surgical incisions and pattern design of tight-fit, functional clothing. In this work, we are interested in developing methods for finding personalized, dynamic skin tension lines (DSTL) in a non-invasive manner. We base our study on the kinematic analysis of point markers that are colored on the skin. By ...