The effect of a hydrogen peroxide wound care regimen on tensile strength of suture.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the tensile strength of nylon, polypropylene, and fast-absorbing gut sutures treated with either 3% hydrogen peroxide or water for a period of 5 days to emulate a wound care regimen.


METHODS
An In-Spec 2200 bench-top tester was used to find the maximum load that a particular suture could sustain prior to breaking.


RESULTS
Analysis of the data showed a statistically significant decrease in tensile strength of fast-absorbing gut sutures treated with hydrogen peroxide compared with fast-absorbing gut suture control samples and fast-absorbing gut sutures treated with only water.


CONCLUSIONS
Though no in vivo studies were performed, a logical extension of these results would be that premature degradation of fast-absorbing gut sutures secondary to use of hydrogen peroxide might lead to widened and/or hypertrophic scars.
Athre
Raghu S
RS
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, TX 75230, USA. raghu@athre.com
Park
Jesung
J
Leach
Joseph L
JL
D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013537:Sutures; D013718:Tensile Strength / Q000187:drug effects*
D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide