Evaluating and Comparing the Tensile Strength and Clinical Behavior of Monofilament Polyamide and Multifilament Silk Sutures: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Objective: This systematic review was carried out with the primary objective of verifying which suture (polyamide or silk) of two non-resorbable suture materials with different structures had better/greater tensile strength/resistance to tension, thereby presenting better mechanical behavior. The secondary objective was to verify which one had better performance. The null hypothesis was that both types of sutures had the same behavior. Methods: This systematic study followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) standards. The focused clinical question was: “In patients that underwent oral surgery treatment (P), is there significantly higher tensile strength/resistance for silk sutures (I) or for polyamide sutures (C) when comparing the outcomes (O)?”. The bibliographic search was conducted on ScienceDirect, B-On, and PubMed/MedLine between March and May 2023. The following MeSH terms were defined: sutures, breaking strength, tensile strength, oral surgery, and dentistry, which were articulated and combined using Boolean operators. There were restrictions, such as articles published in Portuguese, Spanish, or English between 1 January 2018 and 3 April 2023. The quality assessment involved the use of the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) checklist for RCTs and the QUIN tool (Quality Assessment Tool For In Vitro Studies) for in vitro assays. Results: Ten articles were included in this review (eight in vitro studies and two RCTs). For the RCTs, there were moderate and high levels of bias, whereas in the in vitro studies, three were classified as having a high risk of bias and five as moderate risk. The results proved that suture thread with a monofilament polyamide physical structure causes a less inflammatory reaction owing to less bacterial retention and capillarity, while multifilament sutures, such as silk, have superior mechanical characteristics. Regarding hydration, the evidence demonstrated that the preservation and stability of mechanical properties lacked uniformity. Otherwise, hyaluronic acid (HA) presents a promising solution with the same characteristics and antibacterial capabilities. Conclusion: It was possible to reject the null hypothesis that both types of sutures had the same behavior and result. It was proven by the results above that sutures with a monofilament polyamide physical structure cause a less inflammatory reaction owing to less bacterial retention and capillarity. In contrast, multifilament sutures (silk) have superior mechanical characteristics. Regarding hydration using chlorohexidine in surgical sites, the evidence demonstrated in the preservation and stability of mechanical properties lacks uniformity and congruence. However, HA seems to present a promising option with the same characteristics and antibacterial capabilities.