Longitudinal extensibility of the dorsal skin of the hand

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We aimed to assess the longitudinal extensibility of the dorsal skin of the hand. Measurements were done in five hand positions on the dominant hands of 64 volunteers. The positions were full flexion of the wrist and fingers, drop hand, flat hand, hand with opposed thumb and full extension. Dorsal marks were made on the skin in full flexion. The marks were transferred to transparent parchment paper strips with the hand in the different positions. Skin extensibility was assessed by the change in the distance between two skin marks from the full extension position to the other positions. Opposition required the highest degree of skin extensibility in the dorsal radial region, followed orderly by ulnar and central regions. Generally, the extensibility increased from distal to proximal and from ulnar to radial. These findings may be useful in the management of dorsal hand soft tissue defects.