SUTURES
The purpose of a
suture |
to
hold a wound together in good apposition until such time as the natural
healing process is sufficiently well established to make the support
from the suture material unnecessary and redundant. |
Suture Materials |
Surgical suture materials are typical medical devices used for repairing
tissues. Even today, most wound closures are performed with sutures. The
mechanical properties of the materials employed to replace the temporary
loss of tissue strength are therefore of great importance.
Absorbable suture materials, such as PGA Resorba®, support the natural
repair processes until form and function have been restored. These
materials are then broken down within the body.
Non-absorbable suture materials (e.g., Mopylen®) guarantee lasting
support and optimal bioavailability, as is necessary in particular in
connection with long-term implants. |
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Choice of a suture |
Choice of
suture depends on:
Properties
of suture material
Absorption rate
Handling characteristics and knotting properties
Size of suture
Type of needle |

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Common errors of suture use |
Too many throws. Increases foreign body size.
Causes stitch abscesses
Intra-cuticular rather than subcuticular sutures causing hypertrophic
scars
Holding monofilament sutures with instruments reduces tensile strength
by over 50%
Holding butt of needle causes needle and suture breakage. |
Collagen
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Collagen is present in
connective tissue such as skin, bone, cartilage and tendons, and is
responsible for the tensile strength of body structures; collagen is the
main structural protein of these tissues, and is synthesised by
fibroblasts and osteoblasts, and even by chondrocytes. It is a component
of the extracellular matrix and plays an essential part in cell
interactions.
Reconstituted collagen materials are produced in the form of sponges or
films and are used in particular for haemostasis and for covering skin
defects; collagen is also applied as an suitable carrier for drugs and
medicinal products.
In the realm of Tissue Engineering, Resorba collagen products have
proved to be an ideal matrix for the growth and propagation of cells
that are difficult to cultivate. This has provided regenerative medicine
with a potent tool by which cells and tissues can be cultured and
successfully employed for treating surgical defects. |

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