Suture Materials Flashcards
what are the suture characteristics?
size
flexibility
elasticity
surface characteristics
capillarity
memory
tensile strength
knot-holding capacity and relative knot security
loop security
what is suture flexibility determined by?
torsional stiffness
diameter
what are flexible sutures needed for?
ligation and continuous patterns
when are more elastic sutures ideal?
in skin
when are less elastic sutures ideal?
prostheses or critical tissues
what suture should you use in delicate tissues?
low-drag suture
when should you avoid suture with significant capillarity?
contaminated or infected areas
which sutures have high memory?
monofilament sutures
what can be done to multifilament sutures to decrease capillarity?
coating may be applied
how can suture be classified?
composition
degradation behavior
structure
why are natural sutures rarely used?
evoke significant inflammatory reaction
true/false: synthetic absorbable sutures are degraded independent of inflammation
true
which sutures have poorer handling properties and decreased knot security?
monofilament suture
what is the handling of suture needles affected by?
strength
ductility
sharpness
what are the main determinants of needle’s behavior in tissue?
body
point
what should you do when there is increased tension with regards to your suture?
place more sutures
do not increase suture size
what is elasticity?
ability of a material to stretch and then return to original length
what do the surface characteristics of suture determine?
tissue drag and the coefficient of friction
what does the coefficient of friction determine?
slipperiness that affects tendency of knot to loosen
what is the tensile strength of suture?
force that untied suture can withstand before breaking
what is relative knot security expressed as?
percentage of an unknotted suture’s tensile strength
what type of suture has increased knot security?
multifilament sutures
when are nonabsorbable sutures indicated?
extended wound support/implant function
is multifilament or monofilament suture easier to handle?
multifilament
what is the suture of choice for equine linea alba?
vicryl/polyglactin 910
what are the advantages of knotless/barbed suture?
decreases suturing time
decreases foreign material
decreases knot-related complications
what are the barb directions on knotless suture?
unidirectional
bidirectional
what is the selection of suture needles affected by?
tissue to be sutured
wound topography
needle characteristics
what is strength of a wound dependent upon?
tissue’s ability to hold suture, not so much the strength of the material itself
