title: Biomechanical evaluation of a novel subcuticular skin stapling device for use in equine abdominal surgeries.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the in vitro biomechanical properties of a novel subcuticular stapling device to current methods of abdominal skin closure for equine abdominal surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  In vitro randomized, matched design.
  
  
  METHODS
  Equine ventral median abdominal skin specimens (n = 24 horses).
  
  
  METHODS
  Subcuticular absorbable staples (SAS), metallic staples (MS), polyglyconate suture (PG), and nylon monofilament (NYL) were applied to longitudinally transected portions of equine ventral midline skin. Loads that resulted in an initial failure point and the ultimate failure load and mechanism were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean ± SD loads at initial failure for PG (86 N ± 64 N), NYL (81 N ± 142 N), and SAS (70 N ± 20 N) were not significantly different from each other. PG and SAS were significantly higher than MS (43 N ± 17 N; P < .05). Ultimate failure load for PG (563 N ± 157 N) and NYL (558 N ± 162 N) were significantly higher than either MS (175 N ± 44 N) or SAS (96 N ± 20N; P < .001). For the suture groups, nearly all failures occurred because of skin pull through whereas all SAS staples failed because of staple fracture. Failure patterns were mixed for MS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SAS had the lowest ultimate failure load; however, other measured variables identified characteristics of SAS that may be clinically beneficial.
authors: Department of Surgical, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin.
authors: Adam
authors: A
authors: Biedrzycki
authors: Mark D
authors: MD
authors: Markel
authors: Sabrina H
authors: SH
authors: Brounts
mesh_terms: D034861:Abdominal Wall / Q000601:surgery; D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D004868:Equipment Failure; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D006736:Horses; D017792:Surgical Stapling / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000662:veterinary*; D013537:Sutures / Q000662:veterinary