Article

Case-control study. OBJECTIVES: To investigate changes of
biomechanical skin properties and their relationship with paralysis following
spinal cord injury (SCI). SETTING: South Korea. METHODS: A total of 48 male
subjects with chronic SCI and 48 age-matched healthy controls were enrolled into
this study. The C4 shoulder group and L2 thigh group were prescribed by two
measured anatomical regions that represented the C4 and L2 American Spinal Injury
Association sensory dermatomes. Each anatomical group was comprised of one
control subgroup and three SCI subgroups determined by sympathetic paralysis at
the measured region and somatic completeness. The following biomechanical skin
properties were compared between the subgroups in each anatomical group by using
Cutometer, a non-invasive suction device: distensibility (Uf), elasticity (Ua/Uf
and Ur/Uf) and viscoelasticity (Uv/Ue and H). The impact of sympathetic and
somatic sensory paralysis, somatic completeness, age, smoking, body mass index
and duration of injury on the indices of skin properties were analyzed. RESULTS:
In each anatomical group, sympathetic paralyzed subgroups regardless of somatic
sensory completeness showed lower value of skin distensibility (Uf), and higher
values of elasticity (Ua/Uf and Ur/Uf) and viscoelasticity (Uv/Ue and H),
compared with other subgroups. Age and duration of injury had significant impact
on biomechanical skin properties. CONCLUSION: The non-invasive suction method is
useful for quantitative evaluation of skin affected by SCI. In chronic SCI
patients, biomechanical skin properties are significantly altered in the skin
with sympathetic paralysis rather than somatic sensory paralysis.

Langue : ANGLAIS