Breaking strength of barbed polypropylene sutures: rater-blinded, controlled comparison with nonbarbed sutures of various calibers.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the strength of 2.0 barbed polypropylene suture, and, specifically, to determine the load required to break this suture, and to compare this with the strength of nonbarbed polypropylene suture.


METHODS
Rater-blinded, controlled trial. The individual responsible for setting up the experimental conditions was not blinded.


METHODS
Biomechanics laboratory in an academic medical center.


METHODS
This study did not include human subjects. Materials used included six 2.0 barbed polypropylene sutures and 3 each of 2.0, 3.0, 4.0, and 5.0 nonbarbed polypropylene sutures. Each suture was randomly selected from a different batch or box of similar sutures.


METHODS
Each suture was strung between 2 (top and bottom) cylinders and tied with a surgeon's knot. A tensile testing device was used to apply increasing force until the suture broke. Data were acquired through an analog-to-digital board on an IBM-compatible computer using commercially available software.


METHODS
Ultimate strength, stiffness, and elongation before suture rupture.


RESULTS
Strength of the barbed sutures (mean [SD] ultimate strength, 39.5 [9.0] N) was intermediate between that of 2.0 (55.0 N) and 3.0 (36.4 N) nonbarbed sutures and was not significantly different from that of 3.0 nonbarbed sutures (P = .5). Barbed 2.0 polypropylene sutures differed significantly (P < .001) from each of the other types of nonbarbed sutures on measures of stiffness and elongation. Elongation of barbed sutures was closest to that of 3.0 nonbarbed sutures (P = .002). Stiffness of the barbed sutures (mean [SD], 4.7 [0.7] N/mm) was markedly in excess of that of any of the other suture types (P < .001).


CONCLUSIONS
Barbed 2.0 polypropylene sutures seem to be at least as strong as 3.0 nonbarbed polypropylene sutures. As such, barbed sutures are significantly stronger than their rated strength, which has been stated as comparable to 4.0 nonbarbed sutures. This has implications for the long-term in vivo safety of barbed sutures.
Rashid
Rashid M
RM
Division of Dermatology, Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University, Maywood, Illinois, USA.
Rashid
Rashid
R
Sartori
Mark
M
White
Lucile E
LE
Villa
Mark T
MT
Yoo
Simon S
SS
Alam
Murad
M
D006801:Humans; D008422:Materials Testing; D011126:Polypropylenes; D015361:Rhytidoplasty / Q000295:instrumentation*; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013537:Sutures; D013718:Tensile Strength
D011126:Polypropylenes