Microstructural characteristics of human skin subjected to static versus cyclic pressures

Department

Natural Sciences

Document Type

Article

Publication Source

Journal of Rehabilitation Research and Development

Publication Date

2001-12-01

Volume

38

Issue

5

First Page

477

Last Page

486

Abstract

Pressure ulcers are generally associated with external pressures exceeding internal capillary pressures over bony prominences when the body cannot initiate motor movement to change positions. This investigation evaluated microstructural changes occurring in human skin, in vitro, exposed to static versus cyclic pressures, simulating those recorded for heels of human subjects on various pressure-relief mattresses. Morphological data are reported for tissues exposed to pressure in a bench-scale loading system. Dynamic (cyclic-relief) pressure induced parallel alignments of connective tissue collagen bundles, which themselves became differentially oriented to various degrees perpendicular to the surface of the tissue. Static pressure, with no relief, invariably produced alignment of the collagen bundles of the connective tissue parallel to both one another and to the compressed tissue surface. The precursor to pressure ulcer formation may be microstructural alignment in response to the pressure conditions on tissue.

Keywords

Bedsore, Collagen, Decubitus ulcer, Elastin, Pressure, Pressure ulcer, Skin

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