OBJECTIVE:
To quantify tissue tearing force at various anchoring points on the face.
METHODS:
This is a prospective anatomic study using 4 fresh cadavers of persons aged 60 to 70 years at the time of death, for a total of 8 sides.
Standardized 1-cm distances were measured at the various anchor points, and a single 0 Prolene suture loop was tied at each standardized anchoring point.
Steady force was applied perpendicular to the plane of the face with a digital hanging scale.
The scale was pulled until the suture ruptured the tissue at the anchoring point.
The values at which the tissue ruptured were recorded, averaged, and compared.
RESULTS:
The average tissue force was 7.01 kg for the root of the zygoma vs 3.44 kg for the temporalis fascia (P < .05). The average tissue force was 5.50 kg for infralobular tissue vs 4.09 kg for tissue of the superficial musculoaponeurotic system located 1 cm anterior to the infralobular tissue (P < .05). The force for the fascia of the sternocleidomastoid was 3.89 kg vs 5.57 kg for the mastoid fascia (P < .05). There was a statistically significant difference between vertical bites of the temporalis fascia at 1.90 kg vs horizontal bites of the temporalis at 5.01 kg (P < .05).
CONCLUSION:
The tissue tearing force varies by location on the face as well as suture orientation.
2010-01-19
Eng.
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA.
Arch Facial Plast Surg. ;12(1):37-9
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