title: A comparison of sutures for adjustable strabismus surgery.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The adjustable suture technique after strabismus surgery may be more easily performed if the sutures offered minimal resistance during the procedure as desired by the surgeon.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a rabbit model, 3 different types of 6-0 absorbable sutures-Biosorb-C (polyglycolic acid with polycaprolate coating, Alcon Surgical), coated Vicryl (polyglactin 910 coated with polyglactin 370 and calcium stearate, Ethicon), and Dexon-"S" (polyglycolic acid, Davis and Geck)-were advanced through scleral tunnels when attached and not attached to extraocular muscles. Resistance was measured with a precise strain gauge accurate to 0.1 g with an intrinsic microprocessor.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For unattached advancements, Biosorb-C offered significantly less resistance than Vicryl at 6 and 24 hours after operation (P < .02), whereas Dexon-"S" offered less resistance than Vicryl only at 24 hours (P = .001). At 6 hours, Biosorb-C sutures were marginally more slipperythan Dexon-"S" (P= .07). For sutures attached to extraocular muscles at 6 hours after surgery, the 3 sutures offered similar resistance. By 24 hours after the initial procedure, Vicryl presented significantly more resistance than either Biosorb-C or Dexon-"S" (P< .01 for both). For all comparisons of 6 versus 24 hours after surgery, the only significant increase in resistance were Vicryl sutures attached to muscles (P= .02).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data support the use of Biosorb-C and Dexon-"S" for the adjustable suture technique whether adjusted at 6 or 24 hours after the initial procedure, although Biosorb-C may be slightly easier to adjust at 6 hours. If Vicryl is used, it would be easier to adjust the muscle 6 hours after surgery rather than after 24 hours.
authors.affiliation: Wolfson Medical Center, Holon, Israel.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Neumann
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Neumann
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Isenberg
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D009801:Oculomotor Muscles / Q000601:surgery*; D013508:Ophthalmologic Surgical Procedures; D011098:Polyglactin 910; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid; D011817:Rabbits; D013229:Stearic Acids; D013285:Strabismus / Q000601:surgery*; D013536:Suture Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013537:Sutures
chemical_list: D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D013229:Stearic Acids; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid; D011098:Polyglactin 910; C031183:stearic acid