title: Making strong cords from surgical sutures.
abstract: The authors present a simple and cost effective technique of preparing strong cords from surgical sutures. The technique requires suture material, a drill, a clip and it takes less than a minute to prepare. The mechanical strength of the cord obtained by this method was compared to the mechanical strength of a single suture. Cords containing eight thicknesses of the suture material failed at slightly under eight times the single suture strength. A loop made out of cords of number 2 Vicryl or Dexon failed at loads of more than 1000 N. The authors have found these cords extremely useful and effective for reconstruction of the dislocated acromio-clavicular joint and also for the fixation of trans-femoral osteotomies.
authors.affiliation: Dennis Dunn Orthopaedic Unit, Colchester General Hospital, Colchester, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Ronald
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Landsmeer
authors.forename: Vikas
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Khanduja
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: New
authors.forename: Sivakolundu Pachai
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Suresh
authors.forename: Khalil
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Loeffler
mesh_terms: D009983:Orthopedic Equipment; D013537:Sutures; D013718:Tensile Strength