-Report on Experiments and Clinical Cases-

Biomechanics and Computer Simulation of the Z-Plasty

Erika Kitta and Masataka Akimoto

Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Nippon Medical School Chiba Hokusoh Hospital

Introduction: We compared the results of our computer simulation studies of Z-plasties of different design to those of earlier studies, such as laboratory studies in dogs.
Material and Methods: The contours of single Z-plasties of different designs on flat surfaces were transferred to finite element analytical software (ADINA version 8.7).
Results: The lengthening effect was almost proportional to the size of the Z-plasty, but was always less than what was predicted by geometric calculation. The percent gain in length decreased with the number of Z-plasties.
Conclusion: We used ADINA software analyze the lengthening effects of Z-plasties of different patterns. Our results support those of earlier experiments and should help increase our understanding of Z-plasties of various patterns.

J Nippon Med Sch 2013; 80: 218-223

Keywords
Z-plasty, computer simulation, finite element

Correspondence to
Masataka Akimoto, MD, PhD, Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Nippon Medical School Chiba Hokusoh Hospital, 1715 Kamagari, Inzai, Chiba 270-1694, Japan
akimoto@nms.ac.jp

Received, September 3, 2012
Accepted, December 21, 2012