SASx Lab - Suture material Flashcards
________ is a measurement of suture ability to resist breakage
Tensile Strength
What suture is rapidly absorbed in alkaline environments?
Poliglecaprone 25 (Monocryl)
What is knot strength?
The amount of force necessary to cause a knot to slip or break
- Related to coefficient of friction
What factors affect knot strength?
- Suture size (Increased size, decreases knot strength, requires more throws)
- Suture material
- Length of tags
- Knot quality (half hitch decreases knot strength)
- Suture pattern
What is pliability of suture?
- Ease of handling
- Related to material and suture size
- Coated suture has more pliability
Give an example of a non-absorbable suture with good pliability
- Silk (Natural, braided, non absorbable suture)
Give an example of a non-absorbable suture with poor pliability
- Stainless steel (Hard to handle and work with)
What is capillarity of suture?
- Process by which fluid or bacteria is wicked along suture
- Contraindicated if infected tissue!
- Braided suture has high capillarity
When does absorbable suture loose most of its tensile strength?
By 60 days
When does non-absorbable suture loose most of its tensile strength?
> 60 days
What factors affect the absorption rate of suture?
- Material
- Coating (takes more time to loose tensile strength)
- Suture size (larger suture takes more time to loose tensile strength)
- Biochemical environment (urine, pH, infection)
What is the function of suture coating?
- Decreases tissue drag which decreases friction and trauma
- Increases pliability (easier to handle)
- Can be coated with Abx, which is good for infected tissues
Which of the following is the smallest in size?
A. 3-0
B. 5-0
C. 2
D. 1-0
B. 5-0
(2 would be the largest)
What is Catgut/Chromic gut, and what are the properties of this suture type?
- Natural absorbable suture
- Made from SI of cows
- Very inflammatory
- Unpredictable enzymatic absorption
- Not commonly used in SA due the the above reasons
- Short tensile strength, rapidly degraded
What is the generic name for Monocryl?
Poliglecaprone 25
What is the generic name for Vicryl?
Polyglactin 910 (braided multifilament)