Suture materials

Question 1

Function of suture

Answer 1

Hold tissue in apposition until wound healing progresses

Question 2

4 suture properties

Answer 2

Tensile strength
Knot strength
Pliability
Capillarity

Question 3

What is tensile strength

Answer 3

measurement of sutures ability to resist breakage

Larger size = increased TS

Question 4

What is knot strength

Answer 4

amount of force necessary to cause a knot to slip or break

Knot is the weakest point

Question 5

5 factors of knot strength

Answer 5

suture size
suture material
length of tags
knot quality
suture pattern

Question 6

What is pliability

Answer 6

ease of handling - related to material and size

Question 7

What is capillarity

Answer 7

fluid or bacteria is wicked along suture
allows infection to persist in suture
AVOID in infected tissue

Question 8

Absorbable suture propeties

Answer 8

looses most of its tensile strength by 60days

Question 9

Non absorbable suture properties

Answer 9

retains tensile strength for longer than 60 days

Question 10

Suture coating

Answer 10

decreases tissue drag

increases pliability

Question 11

Catgut properties

Answer 11

natural, absorbable
Twisted
inflammatory
short TS duration

Question 12

Vicryl properties

Answer 12

braided, coated

• Rapid: degraded in 2 weeks (dentals)
• Plus: tricolsan coating (Abx), infected wounds
• Vicryl: degraded in infected urine, degraded in 14-21d(Ophthalmic sx)

Question 13

Dexon properties

Answer 13

Braided multifilament
Rapidly degraded in infected urine
TS 14-21d
coated or uncoated

Question 14

Monocryl properties

Answer 14

monofilament, absorbable
TS 7-14d
Uncoated or Abx coated
-non infected bladders or SC tissue

Question 15

Caprosyn properties

Answer 15

absorbable monofilament
TS 14-21d
non infected bladders or SC tissue

Question 16

Biosyn properties

Answer 16

monofilament absorbable
TS 21d
enerotomy, cystotomy, body wall, SC

Question 17

Maxon properties

Answer 17

Monofilament absorbable
TS 6w
similar to PDS

Question 18

PDS properties

Answer 18

Absorbable monofilament
50%TS 6m
similar to Maxon

Question 19

Vicryl and dexon are what

Answer 19

Braided absorbable

Question 20

Monocryl, caprosyn, biosyn, PDS, maxon are what

Answer 20

monofilament absorbable

Question 21

Silk properties

Answer 21

Natural, non absorbable
Braided
INFLAMMATORY
excellent handling
CVS sx

Question 22

Stainless steel properties

Answer 22

Natural, non absorbable 
Monofilament or twisted multifilament
Highest TS, best knot security
non inflammatory
poor handling
Orthopedic use

Question 23

Prolene properties

Answer 23

Synthetic non absorbable
monofilament
very high TS
low reactivity
for prolonged strength - tendons, ligaments, joint capsules

Question 24

Nylon Ethilon properties

Answer 24

synthetic non absorbable
monofilament
low reactivity
high TS
poor handling
skin closure, orthopedic repair

Question 25

Polymerized caprolactam vetafil properties

Answer 25

synthetic non absorbable
twisted multifilament
good handling
SKIN only

Question 26

Polyester - ethibond properties

Answer 26

Synthetic non absorbable
braided multifilament
good TS
coated
high reactivity
musculoskeletal sx