Microstructural and mechanical characterization of human tissue at and adjacent to pressure ulcers

This investigation evaluated the microstructural and mechanical properties of human skin at and adjacent to pressure ulcers (PUs). Healthy breast and leg tissue served as control tissue. The tissue was characterized through u niaxial tensile testing and histomorphometric analysis. The PU tissue had s ignificantly fewer straight and wavy fibers, but the fibers present were si gnificantly wider and longer than those found in the healthy control tissue . PU ulcer tissue tested in tension had significantly lower strains at peak stress, versus the control breast tissue. Tissue at and adjacent to PUs ha s undergone significant adaptation or remodeling, as a result of the pressu re sustained by the tissue.