Longitudinal Study of Scar Hyperplasia Formation Following Cleft Lip Wound Healing. Issue 2 (March 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhang, Dai-zun; Liu, Feng; Xiao, Wen-lin; Cong, Wen-wen
• Is Part Of: Journal of craniofacial surgery. Volume 29:Issue 2(2018)
• Publication Date: 2018-03
• Subjects: α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) -- cleft lip -- myofibroblasts -- rabbits -- scar; Facial bones -- Surgery -- Periodicals; Skull -- Surgery -- Periodicals; Face -- Surgery -- Periodicals; Surgery, Plastic -- Periodicals; 617.52
• DOI: 10.1097/SCS.0000000000004345
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1049-2275

Abstract

Abstract : Abstract: The purpose of this study was to observe the hyperplasia trend of scar after the cleft lip surgery in a rabbit animal model, and determine the time-point of the highest hypertrophic degree of scar after cleft lip repair. Forty New Zealand white rabbits from the same offspring were used to establish a cleft lip wound healing model using Millard surgery procedure. The scar volumes were measured and granulation tissues were observed visually in the 2, 3, 4, and 5 weeks after operation. The scar tissues were harvested at the indicated time-points. Immunohistochemical (IHC) and Western Blot analyses were performed to detect the expression level of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) in the scar tissue. The scars shrunk and the volumes reduced at 3 to 4 weeks after surgery; however, at 5 weeks postsurgery, the volumes increased. IHC and Western blot analyses indicated the expression of α-SMA was significantly enhanced 3 to 4 weeks, but reduced in the 5 weeks after surgery. Overall, the degree of scar hyperplasia after cleft lip surgery in rabbits was normally distributed and the scarring was most severe in the 3 to 4 weeks after cleft lip surgery. The study confirms a novel animal model for the assessment of therapies for the treatment of scar hyperplasia of human cleft lip in future.