Suturing in depth Flashcards
Purpose of suturing (3)
a) approximate tissue until healing takes place
b) ligate vessels
c) tag fragile or important structures
Suture material selections are based on (3)
a) biologic and mechanical performance
b) structure to be sutured (tendon, fascia, skin, vessels, bone)
c) bacterial presence
- –contaminated(monofilament)
- –clean
Suture characteristics (7)
1) strength and tread dimension
2) suture volume
3) elongation
4) flexibility
5) monofilament vs. braided
6) capillarity
7) coating
strength and tread dimension
varies with basic material composition and dimensions
suture volume
use of smaller sutures decreases foreign body volume but sacrificies knot pull strength
elongation (3 properties)
1) elasticity allows a return to original length with cessation of strain. (good ones are stainless steel, braided polyester, catgut, and silk)
2) plasticity allows elongation to persist with cessation of strain (polypropylene)
3) intermediate types posses both elastic and plastic properties
flexibility
based on material and diameter of suture.
-small diameter is more flexible
- silk, dexon is flexible
- nylon, catgut is stiff
monofilament vs. braided
monofilament has a low coefficient of friction and is better suited for contaminated wounds
braided has a high coefficient of friction, greater strength, and capillarity
capillarity (2)
1) fluid and bacteria may penetrate into interstices of braided sutures
2) PMN’s and macrophages too large to reach interstices
coating (3)
1) help decrease capillarity
2) improves handling
3) reduces tissue drag
Suture needles desirable characteristics (4)
1) Made of high quality stainless steel
2) slim as possible without compromising strength
3) sharp enough to penetrate tissue with minimum resistance
4) rigid enough to not bend but ductile enough to not break
suture needle anatomy (3)
1) suture attachment
2) body
3) point
suture important measurements (4)
1) chord length
2) needle radius
3) needle diameter
4) needle length
suture attachment type (3)
closed
french
swaged
- most common suture attachment
- decreases tissue damage
different types of needle bodies (6)
1) straight
2) 1/2 curved
3) 1/2 circle (most common)
4) 1/4 circle
5) 3/8 circle
6) 5/8 circle
different geometric shapes of needle body (4)
1) round
2) flat
3) oval
4) triangular
Different types of needle points
1) blunt
2) tapered
3) cutting
blunt needle point
used for friable tissue