title: Comparison of a new multifilament stainless steel suture with frequently used sutures for flexor tendon repair.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the mechanical properties of some common suture materials currently in use and compare them with a new multifilament stainless steel suture.
  
  
  METHODS
  We investigated the mechanical properties of 3-0 and 4-0 Fiberwire, 3-0 Supramid, 3-0 Ethibond, and a new 3-0 and 4-0 multifilament stainless steel suture. All suture material was tested in a knotted configuration and all but the Supramid was tested in an unknotted configuration. We measured the load, elongation at failure, and stiffness during both tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 4-0 multifilament stainless steel showed the least elongation, whereas the 3-0 multifilament stainless steel withstood the highest load of any material in both the knotted and unknotted tests. There was no difference in stiffness between the 3-0 and 4-0 multifilament stainless steel when untied; however, the 3-0 multifilament stainless steel was stiffer when tied. Soaking in a saline solution had no significant effect on the ultimate load, elongation at failure, or stiffness of any of the sutures. The 3-0 Fiberwire and 3-0 Ethibond required at least 5 throws to resist untying.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Multifilament stainless steel exhibited promising mechanical advantages over the other sutures tested. More research is needed to determine how this material will affect the clinical outcomes of primary flexor tendon repair.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  With a secure attachment to the tendon, the multifilament stainless steel's lower elongation and better knot-holding ability may result in a higher force to produce a 2-mm gap and a higher ultimate tensile strength in a tendon repair.
authors.affiliation: UCSF/SFGH Orthopaedic Trauma Institute, and the Department of Anatomy and Orthopaedic Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: McDonald
authors.forename: Joshua A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Gordon
authors.forename: Jenni M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Buckley
authors.forename: Leonard
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gordon
mesh_terms: D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D004548:Elasticity; D006801:Humans; D008422:Materials Testing; D008853:Microscopy; D009757:Nylons; D011093:Polyethylene Terephthalates; D013193:Stainless Steel; D013537:Sutures; D013708:Tendon Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D013718:Tensile Strength
chemical_list: C014534:Ethibond; D009757:Nylons; D011093:Polyethylene Terephthalates; D013193:Stainless Steel