ABSTRACT
Objective To evaluate the viscoelastic properties of porcine acellular dermal matrix (PADM) by comparison and analysis on physical parameters of the skin. Methods Full-thickness skin defects were performed on the back of white rabbits as wound models, and randomly divided these wounds into 3 groups according to different methods of skin grafting: PADM group (autogenous skin and PADM were grafted to the surface of the wound), TS group (autogenous skin was grafted in situ), NS group (normal skin as the control). Experiments on the stress-strain relationship of the implanted skin in the three groups were conducted. Results The curves of stress relaxation, creep, and stress-strain relationship showed that under a given stress, PADM group had the lowest strain, NS group had the highest strain, while the strain of TS group was in between the PADM and NS group. Conclusions The skin viscoelasticity mechanical model is a four-parameter solid model. When the skin wounds are grafted by using PADM which may have poor elasticity, its recovery capacity after deformation is also poor, and this is in agreement with the clinical results.