title: A comparative in vivo study of tissue reactions to four suturing materials.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this study was to compare the histopathologic reaction of four suturing materials: silk, polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), polyglycolic acid, and catgut in the oral mucosa of albino rabbits.
  
  
  METHODS
  The twenty-one male mature albino rabbits which were used in this study were randomly divided into three groups of seven each. Silk, PVDF, polyglycolic acid and catgut suture materials were tested in the oral mucosa of these animals. The animals were sacrificed 2, 4, and 7 days after suturing. Two pathologists evaluated the samples by determining the presence and level of inflammation, granulation tissue, and fibrosis formation. Data were statistically analyzed by Kruskal Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Histological features of the samples showed that PVDF and plain catgut suture materials produced more fibrous tissue (favorable response) on the fourth day in comparison with silk suture (P=0.02). Also, in the 7-day samples PVDF sutures produced the mildest inflammation when compared with the silk sutures (P=0.015).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  According to the results of this study, it can be convey that PVDF suture materials created mild tissue reactions and can be a reasonable candidate for suturing oral tissues.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Medicine, Oral and Dental Diseases Research Center, Dental School, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
authors.forename: Shahla
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kakoei
authors.forename: Fahimeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Baghaei
authors.forename: Shahriar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dabiri
authors.forename: Masoud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Parirokh
authors.forename: Sina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kakooei
keywords: Catgut; Histopathologic; Oral; PVDF; Polyglycolic Acid; Silk; Sutures