Suture Materials

Question 1

Can you give some examples of Synthetic absorbable multifilament materials? What are there uses?

Answer 1

Vicryl, Dexon, Polysorb, Panacryl.

Vessel ligation, general soft tissue closure, esp. in the mouth.

Question 2

How do synthetic absorbable multifilament materials absorbed?

Answer 2

Absorption complete at 60-90 days. Polysorb>Vicryl>Dexon

Question 3

How do synthetic absorbable multifilament materials lose strength? What is their tissue handling and knotting like?

Answer 3

Lose 33% strength at 7d, 80% at 14d, 100% at 21d. Good handling and knotting, tissue drag can be improved by coating.

Question 4

Can you give some examples of Synthetic absorbable monofilament (short duration) materials? What are there uses?

Answer 4

Monocryl, Caprosyn.

General soft tissue, visceral closure (Monocryl - bladder)

Question 5

How are synthetic absorbable monofilament (short duration) materials absorbed?

Answer 5

Absorption complete at 90-120 days. Speed: Caprosyn>Monocryl

Question 6

How do synthetic absorbable monofilament (short duration) materials lose strength? What is their tissue handling and knotting like?

Answer 6

High tensile strength. Loss 50% at 7d, 60% at 14d, 100% at 21d. Monocryl is soft and pliable, Caprosyn is more sticky.

Question 7

Can you give some examples of Synthetic absorbable monofilament (long duration) materials? What are there uses?

Answer 7

PDSII, Maxon, Biosin.

Soft tissues needing long support e.g. muscle, fascia, linea alba.

Question 8

How are synthetic absorbable monofilament (long duration) materials absorbed?

Answer 8

Absorbed completely by 110-210 days.

Question 9

How do synthetic absorbable monofilament (long duration) materials lose strength? What is their tissue handling and knotting like?

Answer 9

Strong materials, loss 26% at 14d, 40% at 28d, 75% at 42d. PDSII strongest. PDS II has high tendency to coil (memory).

Question 10

Can you give some examples of synthetic non absorbable monofilament materials? What are there uses?

Answer 10

Prolene/SurgiPro, Ethilon, Flexon (steel)

Inert - used in skin, stoma, vessels. Prolonged support - hernia, tendon.

Question 11

How are synthetic non absorbable monofilament materials react?

Answer 11

Minimal reaction - inert.

Question 12

How do synthetic non-absorbable monofilament materials lose strength? What is their tissue handling and knotting like?

Answer 12

Strong, Nylon has 25% loss at 2 years. Memory: Prolene>Nylon, Knot security: Prolene>Nylon

Question 13

Can you give some examples of synthetic non absorbable multifilament materials? What are there uses?

Answer 13

Mersilene, Novafil, Supramid.

Ligament Prosthesis, skin closure?

Question 14

How are synthetic non absorbable multifilament materials react?

Answer 14

Moderate inflammation

Question 15

How do synthetic non-absorbable multifilament materials lose strength? What is their tissue handling and knotting like?

Answer 15

Stronger than nylon, very little loss of strength. Fair handling, slightly elastic, sheath cracks on knot.

Question 16

Can you give some examples of natural absorbable multifilament materials? What are there uses?

Answer 16

Catgut, Collagen.

Vessel ligation, Opthalmic surgery.

Question 17

How are natural absorbable multifilament materials react? How are they absorbed?

Answer 17

Absorbed at 60-70 days. Marked tissue reaction, break down a lot quicker when infected or acidic, unpredictable absorption.

Question 18

How do natural absorbable multifilament materials lose strength? What is their tissue handling and knotting like?

Answer 18

Loss 33% at 7d, 67% at 14d. Knots are weaker when wet, poor knot security (leave ends long), good handling.

Question 19

Can you give some examples of natural non-absorbable multifilament materials? What are there uses?

Answer 19

Mersilk, Permahand - silk

Large vessel ligation e.g. PDA, not in Viscera (may cause ulcers)

Question 20

How are natural non-absorbable multifilament materials react?

Answer 20

Moderate marked inflammation, encapsulated in fibrous tissue.

Question 21

How do natural non-absorbable multifilament materials lose strength? What is their tissue handling and knotting like?

Answer 21

Weak - will break. Very slow absorption - 2 years. Good handling.