Suture Flashcards
What is the function of suture?
Hold tissue in apposition until wound healing progresses
What are the 4 properties of suture?
Tensile strength
Knot strength
Piability
Capillarity
What is tensile strength?
How strong suture is and ability to resist breakage
The larger the suture size the ____the tensile strength
Greater
What is the weakest point of the suture?
Knot
The larger the diameter of suture the____ secure the knot
Less
What are the length of suture tags?
3-5 mm internal
What is capilarity?
How much suture wicks/absorbs
What suture has high vs. low capilarity?
High: woven suture (vicryl)
Low: Monofilament steel
What type of tissue should vicryl not be used in?
Infected tissue
What is the difference of absorbable and non-absorbable suture?
Absorbable: suture that has lost most of tensile strength by 60 d
Non-absorbable: Retains tensile strength longer than 60 d
What is the MOA of absorbable suture?
Hydrolysis and enzymatic
What suture absorbs much faster in acidic environment vs. alkaline environment?
Acidic: PDS
Alkaline: monocryl
What is the function of coated suture?
Decreases tissue drag
What type of coatings has less knot security?
Water soluble coating