The Biomechanical Properties of Suture Materials and Their Relationship to Bacterial Adherence

Abstract

Sutures are classified into non-absorbable and absorbable, and mechanical properties of these materials vary by the composition. In this study we analyze four different types of sutures used commonly in surgery: silk, nylon, polyglycolic acid (PGA) and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). The materials were chosen to represent a wide range of suture material categories: absorbable and nonresorbable, monofilament and multifilament, natural and synthetic in order to assess their mechanical properties but also the bacterial adherence to each type. The objective of this study was to measure the total bacterial adherence by using real time PCR at 7 days postop and to analyze the antibacterial and mechanical properties comparatively depending on the type and composition of sutures. Tensile properties such as maximum tensile load, elongation rate, stiffness and energy absorbed before breakage were taken into consideration. Experimental determination pointed out that the average total bacterial load was lowest for PTFE and highest for silk. The results of the study are useful in choosing an appropriate suture wire according to the mechanical properties taking into account the bacterial load of the surgical site in order to aid in tissue repair.