Poly(L-lactide/glycolide) suture: the effect of acute radiation.
The physical properties of Poly(L-lactide/glycolide) indicate that the suture retains approximately 80% of its original strength at 3 months and 60% of its original strength at 6 months. This new long-term synthetic absorbable suture offers postoperative fascial strength for an extended period when compared to other available absorbables. Importantly, many women with gynecologic cancer will undergo radiation therapy during this interval. This report is intended to evaluate the effects of ionizing radiation on this suture.


METHODS
One lot (op strands) of size 1 PLG suture was used. Ten (10) strands were used for baseline study of out of package tensile strength. Eighty (80) strands were placed in a buffer solution (pH approximately 9.0) and incubated in an in vitro water bath approximately 48 h at 55 degrees C to simulate 4 weeks in vitro residence time. Following this in vitro hydrolysis 20 strands were tested. Sixty strands were placed beneath a piece of fresh full thickness porcine skin and subcutaneous tissue and exposed to 3, 30, and 70 Gy. All samples were evaluated for breaking strength and elongation-at-break using an Instron tensiometer.


RESULTS
Analysis of variance performed at the different exposure level revealed no significant effect on tensile properties (p>0.1).


CONCLUSIONS
The tensile properties of PLG suture are not adversely affected by ionizing radiation. This long-term absorbable suture is an alternative for fascial closure when extended periods of support are necessary in patients destined to receive therapeutic ionizing radiation.
Orr
James W
JW
Florida Gynecologic Oncology, Lee Cancer Care, Fort Myers, FL 33901, USA. jorr@rtsx.com
Kelly
F Joseph
FJ
Roland
Phillip Y
PY
Blitzer
Peter B
PB
D011098:Polyglactin 910 / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D013537:Sutures; D013718:Tensile Strength / Q000528:radiation effects
D011098:Polyglactin 910