Evaluation of pericranial skull adherence during healing in the rabbit model.
BACKGROUND
The endoscopic brow-lift is a popular technique for rejuvenation of the aging brow and forehead. Long-lasting results depend on readherence of the pericranium to the underlying skull in the newly elevated position. Determination of the time required for pericranial readherence to occur is important when considering optimal brow fixation time postoperatively; however, few studies of pericranial healing exist in the literature.


OBJECTIVE
To quantify the time required for pericranial adherence after pericranial elevation in a rabbit model.


METHODS
Anesthetized New Zealand white rabbits underwent elevation of a pericranial flap on day 0. The flap was then repositioned and the skin sutured. One unoperated-on group served as a control. A tensiometer was used to measure the force required to separate the pericranial flap from the skull of the control animals and of test animals killed on postoperative days 3, 5, 8, 10, 13, 17, 20, 25, and 28. Statistical analysis was performed to determine the effect of healing time on the strength of pericranial readherence.


RESULTS
There was a statistically significant decrease in the force required for pericranial separation at 3 and 5 days after surgery compared with the control group. By 8 days postoperatively and throughout the subsequent times examined, no statistically significant differences from the control group were observed.


CONCLUSIONS
In this rabbit model, pericranial adherence (as measured by tensile strength) is decreased postoperatively and does not return to baseline levels until postoperative day 8.
Kriet
J David
JD
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Kansas Medical Center, 3901 Rainbow Blvd, Mailstop 3010, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA. dkriet@kumc.edu
Yang
Caroline Y
CY
Wang
Tom D
TD
Cook
Ted A
TA
D000818:Animals; D005546:Forehead; D023421:Models, Animal; D010521:Periosteum / Q000502:physiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D011817:Rabbits; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures; D012886:Skull; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000502:physiology*; D013718:Tensile Strength / Q000502:physiology; D013997:Time Factors; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology*