title: Lines of minimal movement.
abstract: The lines of maximal tension are parallel to the skin creases, or lines of cleavage, as described by Langer. This study verifies that incisions in the foot produce the least amount of scarring when made parallel to the lines of minimal movement. Incisions made perpendicular to these cleavage lines produce maximal scarring, and oblique incisions produce an intermediate amount of scarring.
mesh_terms: D002921:Cicatrix; D062109:Dermatologic Surgical Procedures; D005528:Foot / Q000502:physiology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D009068:Movement; D012879:Skin Physiological Phenomena; D014945:Wound Healing