Surgical materials Flashcards
What 4 things do we want of the suture material in terms of the body?
- non-electrolytic (not metal)
- non-capillary (a downfall of monofilament)
- non-allergic
- non-carcinogenic
What are 6 things that the surgeon will want from the suture material?
- Easy to use
- Minimal tissue ‘drag’
- Good knot security
- Inexpensive
- Easily available
- Easy to sterilise without alteration
What is tensile strength?
The breaking strength per unit area.
What is memory?
The tendency to retain original configuration.
What is ‘chatter’ and tissue ‘drag’?
Lack the smoothness when passing through tissue.
Tissue reaction?
This is when the body responds to the presence of suture material like they would other foreign bodies and there is an inflammatory response.
Name two reasons multifilament is more prone to infection than monofilament?
Multifilament has a greater surface area and more access to the body.
The body finds it hard to access some areas of multifiliament compared to monofilament.
Which cause more reaction, natural materials or man-made materials?
Natural materials - man-made materials have been designed with minimal reaction.
What are the three parts to the needle?
- the point
- the body
- the eye
A needle’s radius of curvature is expressed in what?
The proportion of the circle
Which two types of needle will we most commonly be using?
3/8ths or 1/2 circle
What are straight and curved needles handled with?
Straight needles are handled manually whereas curved needles are held with needle holders.
What are the three types of needle cutting points?
- Blunt (circular, elliptic)
- Sharp (Polygonal)
- Compound (tapercut)
How big is the tapercut point in comparison with the rest of the body?
It will never be wider than the rest of the body.
Do we mostly use standard cut or the reverse cut?
We mostly use the reverse cut.
What two types of needle can you get?
Eyed or swaged
Name three different types of eye?
- Closed
- Open
- Split
Name 3 disadvantages of using eyed needles?
- Double width of suture material
- Multiple use leads to blunting
- increased tissue trauma
Name three benefits of swaged needles?
- minimal trauma
- Single-use
- Optimal penetration properties
What are needles made out of?
Stainless alloys
What is ‘Ductility’?
This is when the needle bends before breaking and tells the surgeon that the force being placed on them is too great.
What is the curve of the needle proportional to?
The wound depth or the difficulty of access.
Which two needles should you use wherever possible?
Blunt or compound.
When should you use triangular needles?
For very resistant material