Simple interrupted percutaneous suture versus intradermal running suture for wound tensile strength measurement in rats: a technical note.
BACKGROUND
In this experimental study, simplicity of measurement and wound tensile strength of wounds fixed by simple interrupted percutaneous suture (SIPS) and intradermal running suture (IRS) were compared.


METHODS
Twenty-eight male Sprague-Dawley rats were used for the experiment and separated into two groups: SIPS group and IRS group. Under general anesthesia, two parallel full-thickness (4-cm) skin incisions were made on the back of each rat. Wounds in the SIPS group were closed using 4 interrupted percutaneous sutures, whereas wounds in the IRS group were closed by intradermal running suture. Seven animals from each group were sacrificed at 2 and at 5 days after surgery for tensile strength testing.


RESULTS
The wound tensile strength of IRS wounds was significantly higher than that of SIPS wounds at 2 days (SIPS = 2.9 +/- 0.8 vs. IRS = 3.7 +/- 0.9 g/mm(2), p < 0.05) and at 5 days (SIPS = 5.6 +/- 1.3 vs. IRS = 7.1 +/- 1.2 g/mm(2), p < 0.01). In addition, the measurement of IRS wounds was easier and faster due to removal of only one suture.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings highlight the advantages of expanding the use of IRS suturing in experimental studies conducted on rats.
Gál
P
P
Department of Medical Biophysics, Pavol Jozef Safárik University, Slovak Republic. galovci@yahoo.com
Toporcer
T
T
Vidinský
B
B
Hudák
R
R
Zivcák
J
J
Sabo
J
J
D000818:Animals; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013536:Suture Techniques; D013718:Tensile Strength; D014945:Wound Healing