title: Why do most surgical incisions require lengthening? How to avoid it.
abstract: When an incision is retracted, it shortens because skin does not actually stretch--it only shifts. A mathematical model accurately predicted operating room experience. Average retraction of 30-50% shortens an incision by 15%. Therefore, an incision to expose fixed bony landmarks should be 15% longer than the distance between them.
authors.affiliation: Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rang
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009985:Orthopedics / Q000379:methods*