Cosmetic Surgery Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Cosmetic Surgery, including details on microsurgery, reconstruction, techniques, risks. | ||||||||
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Stress Relaxation and Creep: Viscoelastic Properties of Common Suture Materials Used for Flexor Tendon Repair.Vizesi F, Jones C, Lotz N, Gianoutsos M, Walsh WR Surgical & Orthopaedic Research Laboratories, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; Sydney Children’s Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. PURPOSE: The time-dependent mechanical behavior of common suture materials may have a pronounced influence on the quality of flexor tendon repairs with respect to gap formation. METHODS: Sutures commonly used in plastic surgery, particularly for hand tendon repair, were tested in tension for analysis of stress relaxation and creep properties. The three materials tested were (1) Prolene, a monofilament polypropylene(Ethicon, Somerville, NJ); (2) Ethilon, a monofilament nylon(Ethicon, Somerville, NJ); and (3) Ticron, a braided polyester fiber (Sherwood, Davis & Geck, St. Louis, MO). All measurements were made with 1.5-mm (4-0) varieties of the sutures, in physiological buffered solution (0.9% phosphate-buffered saline [PBS]) at both room (22 degrees C) and body temperature (37 degrees C) conditions. RESULTS: Ticron was the stiffest suture at both room and body temperature, followed by Prolene and Ethilon. Both Prolene and Ethilon showed statistically (p < .05) reduced stiffness at body temperature. Prolene exhibited statistically larger (p < .05) relaxation and creep ratios than the other two sutures, and it was the only material to show temperature effects in creep and relaxation. CONCLUSIONS: Based on static and viscoelastic mechanical properties, Ticron is the most suitable suture for flexor tendon repairs when compared to Prolene and Ethilon. Published 25 February 2008 in J Hand Surg [Am], 33(2): 241-246.
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