Suture Materials

Question 1

what are the suture characteristics?

Answer 1

size
flexibility
elasticity
surface characteristics
capillarity
memory
tensile strength
knot-holding capacity and relative knot security
loop security

Question 2

what is suture flexibility determined by?

Answer 2

torsional stiffness
diameter

Question 3

what are flexible sutures needed for?

Answer 3

ligation and continuous patterns

Question 4

when are more elastic sutures ideal?

Answer 4

in skin

Question 5

when are less elastic sutures ideal?

Answer 5

prostheses or critical tissues

Question 6

what suture should you use in delicate tissues?

Answer 6

low-drag suture

Question 7

when should you avoid suture with significant capillarity?

Answer 7

contaminated or infected areas

Question 8

which sutures have high memory?

Answer 8

monofilament sutures

Question 9

what can be done to multifilament sutures to decrease capillarity?

Answer 9

coating may be applied

Question 10

how can suture be classified?

Answer 10

composition
degradation behavior
structure

Question 11

why are natural sutures rarely used?

Answer 11

evoke significant inflammatory reaction

Question 12

true/false: synthetic absorbable sutures are degraded independent of inflammation

Answer 12

true

Question 12

which sutures have poorer handling properties and decreased knot security?

Answer 12

monofilament suture

Question 13

what is the handling of suture needles affected by?

Answer 13

strength
ductility
sharpness

Question 14

what are the main determinants of needle’s behavior in tissue?

Answer 14

body
point

Question 15

what should you do when there is increased tension with regards to your suture?

Answer 15

place more sutures
do not increase suture size

Question 16

what is elasticity?

Answer 16

ability of a material to stretch and then return to original length

Question 17

what do the surface characteristics of suture determine?

Answer 17

tissue drag and the coefficient of friction

Question 18

what does the coefficient of friction determine?

Answer 18

slipperiness that affects tendency of knot to loosen

Question 19

what is the tensile strength of suture?

Answer 19

force that untied suture can withstand before breaking

Question 20

what is relative knot security expressed as?

Answer 20

percentage of an unknotted suture’s tensile strength

Question 21

what type of suture has increased knot security?

Answer 21

multifilament sutures

Question 22

when are nonabsorbable sutures indicated?

Answer 22

extended wound support/implant function

Question 23

is multifilament or monofilament suture easier to handle?

Answer 23

multifilament

Question 24

what is the suture of choice for equine linea alba?

Answer 24

vicryl/polyglactin 910

Question 25

what are the advantages of knotless/barbed suture?

Answer 25

decreases suturing time
decreases foreign material
decreases knot-related complications

Question 26

what are the barb directions on knotless suture?

Answer 26

unidirectional
bidirectional

Question 27

what is the selection of suture needles affected by?

Answer 27

tissue to be sutured
wound topography
needle characteristics

Question 28

what is strength of a wound dependent upon?

Answer 28

tissue’s ability to hold suture, not so much the strength of the material itself