Past research which assessed sensory recovery following grafting in humans has generally been characterized by variability in sensory testing methodology, and graft types and characteristics, small numbers of subjects, and incomplete psychophysics. Despite the variability, researchers observed that tactile, and temperature sensitivity, and two-point discrimination thresholds returned following grafting, although sensitivity was not equivalent to that of normal skin. / A cross-sectional observational study implementing control was made of the recovery of tactile and pain sensitivity using von Frey hairs in 39 subjects having skin flaps and/or grafts in the region of the chest and neck as a result of tumor excision. In contrast to past research, no subjects perceived stimuli of less than 11.80 g applied to the flap/graft, while 23% perceived 11.80 g or more. Of 4 subjects having split-thickness grafts, all perceived tactile and painful stimuli applied to the donor site. In addition, all subjects perceived pressure delivered to the graft or flap via the thumb pad. / In order to determine whether these findings were due to visual information available to subjects in previous research, but not in this experiment, a second experiment was conducted. this experiment was identical to Experiment 1 except 10 subjects having neck dissections used a mirror to observe stimulation during one stimulation series, but not the other. The reported number of perceptions were not significantly different for the two methods. However, in contrast to Experiment 1, 50% of the subjects perceived less than 11.80 g of force, while 80% perceived 11.80 g or more. Although the cause of the discrepancy between Experiment 1 and 2 is unknown, both experiments indicate that relatively little sensory recovery occurs following skin flaps or grafts due to the fact that only 31% of all subjects in both experiments perceived 17.10 g or less. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 46-12, Section: B, page: 4448. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1985.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_75710 |
| Contributors | WOODWARD, KATHERINE LOUISE., Florida State University |
| Source Sets | Florida State University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text |
| Format | 52 p. |
| Rights | On campus use only. |
| Relation | Dissertation Abstracts International |
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