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Publication
Physical properties of Scarpa's fascia
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Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
Preservation of Scarpa's fascia has improved clinical outcomes in abdominoplasty
procedures and in other body contour surgeries. However, the physical properties of
Scarpa's fascia have not yet been described, and grafts are still underexplored. Fresh
surgical specimens from five female patients subjected to classical abdominoplasty
were dissected and analyzed. A grid was drawn on the fascia surface, dividing it into
equal upper and lower halves; four Scarpa's fascia samples (30 10 mm) were col lected from each half, 40 mm apart. The thickness was measured with a caliper. A
strain/stress universal testing machine was used for mechanical tests. Twenty-five
samples were obtained (nine from the upper half, 16 from the lower). The average
thickness was 0.56 ± 0.11 mm. The average values for stretch, stress, strain, and
Young's Modulus were, respectively, 1.436, 4.198 MPa, 43.6%, and 23.14 MPa. The
upper half showed significantly greater thickness and strain values (p = 0.020 and
p = 0.048; Student's t-test). The physical and biomechanical properties of Scarpa's
fascia can make it a donor area for fascial grafts as an alternative to fascia lata, as it is
always available and has minimal donor-site morbidity. Further studies are needed to
validate this statement. It seems advantageous to use the lower half of the abdomen
instead of the upper part as a donor site
Description
Keywords
biomechanics cosmetic surgery fascia graft physical properties strain stress