Basic Knots
The knots demonstrated on the following pages are those most frequently used, and are applicable to all types of operative procedures. The camera was placed behind the
demonstrator so that each step of the knot is shown as seen by the operator. For clarity, one-half of the strand is purple and the other white. The purple working strand is initially held in the right hand. The left-handed person may choose to study the photographs in a mirror.
1. Simple knot: incomplete basic unit 2. Square knot: completed knot
3. Surgeon's or Friction knot: completed tension knot
Knot Security
The knots demonstrated on the following pages are those most frequently used, and are applicable to all types of operative procedures. The camera was placed behind the
demonstrator so that each step of the knot is shown as seen by the operator. For clarity, one-half of the strand is purple and the other white. The purple working strand is initially held in the right hand. The left-handed person may choose to study the photographs in a mirror.
1. Simple knot: incomplete basic unit 2. Square knot: completed knot
3. Surgeon's or Friction knot: completed tension knot
Knot Security
The construction of ETHICON* sutures has been carefully designed to produce the
optimum combination of strength, uniformity, and hand for each material. The term hand is the most subtle of all suture quality aspects. It relates to the feel of the suture in the surgeon's hands, the smoothness with which it passes through tissue and ties down, the way in which knots can be set and snugged down, and most of all, to the firmness or body of the suture. Extensibility relates to the way in which the suture will stretch slightly during knot tying and then recover. The stretching characteristics provide the signal that alerts the surgeon to the precise moment when the suture knot is snug.
Multifilament sutures are generally easier to handle and to tie than monofilament sutures, however, all the synthetic materials require a specific knotting technique. With
multifilament sutures, the nature of the material and the braided or twisted construction provide a high coefficient of friction and the knots remain as they are laid down. In monofilament sutures, on the other hand, the coefficient of friction is relatively low, resulting in a greater tendency for the knot to loosen after it has been tied. In addition, monofilament synthetic polymeric materials possess the property of memory. Memory is the tendency not to lie flat, but to return to a given shape set by the material's extrusion process or the suture's packaging. The RELAY* suture delivery system delivers sutures with minimal package memory due to its unique package design.
Suture knots must be properly placed to be secure. Speed in tying knots may result in less than perfect placement of the strands. In addition to variables inherent in the suture materials, considerable variation can be found between knots tied by different surgeons and even between knots tied by the same individual on different occasions.
General Principles of Knot Tying
Certain general principles govern the tying of all knots and apply to all suture materials. 1. The completed knot must be firm, and so tied that slipping is virtually impossible. The simplest knot for the material is the most desirable. 2. The knot must be as small as possible to prevent an excessive amount of tissue reaction when absorbable sutures are used, or to minimize foreign body reaction to nonabsorbable sutures. Ends should be cut as short as possible. 3. In tying any knot, friction between strands (\"sawing\") must be avoided as this can weaken the integrity of the suture. 4. Care should be taken to avoid damage to the suture material when handling. Avoid the crushing or crimping application of surgical instruments, such as
needleholders and forceps, to the strand except when grasping the free end of the suture during an instrument tie. 5. Excessive tension applied by the surgeon will cause breaking of the suture and may cut tissue. Practice in avoiding excessive tension leads to successful use of finer gauge materials. 6. Sutures used for approximation should not be tied too tightly, because this may contribute to tissue strangulation. 7. After the first loop is tied, it is necessary to maintain traction on one end of the strand to avoid loosening of the throw if being tied under any tension. 8. Final tension on final throw should be as nearly horizontal as possible. 9. The surgeon should not hesitate to change stance or position in relation to the patient in order to place a knot securely and flat. 10. Extra ties do not add to the strength of a properly tied knot. They only contribute to its bulk. With some synthetic materials, knot security requires the standard surgical technique of flat and square ties with additional throws if indicated by surgical circumstance and the experience of the surgeon. An important part of good suturing technique is correct method in knot tying. A seesaw motion, or the sawing of one strand down over another until the knot is formed, may materially weaken sutures to the point that they may break when the second throw is made or, even worse, in the postoperative period when the suture is further weakened by increased tension or motion.
If the two ends of the suture are pulled in opposite directions with uniform rate and tension, the knot may be tied more securely. This point is well-illustrated in the knot tying techniques shown in the next section of this manual.
Square Knot
Square Knot Pictures
Two-Hand Technique
One-Hand Technique
Two Hand Technique
Square Knot Two-Hand Technique Page 1 of 3
The two-hand square knot is
the easiest and most reliable
for tying most suture materials. It may be used to tie surgical gut, virgin silk, surgical cotton, and surgical stainless steel.
Standard technique of flat and square ties with additional throws if indicated by the surgical circumstance and the experience of the
operator should be used to tie PANACRYL*
braided synthetic absorbable suture, MONOCRYL*
(poliglecaprone 25) suture, Coated VICRYL*
(polyglactin 910) suture, Coated VICRYL
RAPIDE* (polyglactin 910) suture, PDS* II (polydioxanone) suture, ETHILON* nylon suture, ETHIBOND* EXCEL polyester suture, PERMA-HAND* silk suture, PRONOVA* poly (hexafluoropropylene-VDF) suture, and PROLENE*
polypropylene suture.
1 White strand placed over Purple strand held in right 2
extended index finger of left hand acting as
bridge, and held in palm of left hand. Purple
strand held in right hand.
hand brought between left thumb and index finger.
3 Left hand turned
inward by pronation, and thumb swung under white strand to form the first loop.
Purple strand crossed 4
over white and held between thumb and index finger of left hand.
Square Knot Two-Hand Technique Page 2 of 3
5 Right hand releases
purple strand. Then left hand supinated, with thumb and index finger still grasping purple strand, to bring purple strand through the white loop. Regrasp purple strand with right hand.
7 Left index finger
released from white strand and left hand again supinated to loop white strand over left thumb. Purple strand held in right hand is angled slightly to the left.
Purple strand
6
released by left hand and grasped by right. Horizontal tension is applied with left hand toward and right hand away from operator. This
completes first half hitch.
Purple strand
8
brought toward the operator with the right hand and placed between left thumb and index finger. Purple strand crosses over white strand.
Square Knot Two-Hand Technique Page 3 of 3
9 By further supinating left hand, white
strand slides onto left index finger to form a loop as purple strand is grasped between left index finger and thumb.
11 Horizontal tension
applied with left hand away from and right hand toward the operator. This
completes the second half hitch.
Left hand rotated
10
inward by pronation with thumb carrying purple strand through loop of white strand. Purple strand is grasped between right thumb and index finger.
The final tension on
12
the final throw should be as nearly horizontal as possible.
One-Handed Technique
Square Knot One-Hand Technique Page 1 of 2
Wherever possible, the square knot is tied using the two-hand technique. On some occasions it will be necessary to use one hand, either the left or the right, to tie a square knot. These illustrations employ the left-handed technique. The sequence of throws
illustrated is most commonly used for tying single suture strands. The sequence may be reversed should the
surgeon be holding a reel of suture material in the right hand and placing a series of ligatures. In either case, it cannot be too strongly emphasized that the directions the hands travel must be reversed proceeding from one throw to the next to ensure that the knot formed lands flat and square. Half hitches result if this precaution is not taken.
1White strand held
between thumb and index finger of left hand with loop over extended index finger. Purple strand held between thumb and index finger of right hand.
Purple strand brought
over white strand on left index finger by moving right hand away from operator.
2
3 With purple strand
supported in right hand, the distal phalanx of left index finger passes under the white strand to place it over tip of left index finger. Then the white strand is pulled through loop in preparation for applying tension.
The first half hitch is completed by
advancing tension in the horizontal plane with the left hand drawn toward and right hand away from the operator.
Surgeon’s or Friction Knot
Surgeon's or Friction Knot Page 1 of 3
The surgeon's or friction knot
is recommended for tying
PANACRYL* braided synthetic absorbable suture, Coated VICRYL* (polyglactin 910) suture, ETHIBOND* EXCEL polyester suture,
PRONOVA* poly (hexafluoropropylene-VDF) suture, and
PROLENE*
polypropylene suture.
The surgeon's knot also may be performed using a one-hand technique in a manner analogous to that illustrated for the square knot one-hand technique.
ETHILON* nylon suture, MERSILENE* polyester fiber suture,
NUROLON* nylon suture,
1White strand placed over Purple strand crossed
extended index finger of left hand and held in palm of left hand. Purple strand held between thumb and index finger of right hand.
over white strand by moving right hand away from operator at an angle to the left. Thumb and index finger of left hand pinched to form loop in the white strand over index finger.
2
3 Left hand turned
inward by pronation, and loop of white
strand slipped onto left thumb. Purple strand grasped between
thumb and index finger of left hand. Release right hand.
Left hand rotated by supination extending
left index finger to pass purple strand through loop. Regrasp purple strand with right hand.
Surgeon's or Friction Knot Page 2 of 3
5 The loop is slid onto
the thumb of the left hand by pronating the pinched thumb and index finger of left hand beneath the loop.
7 Left hand rotated by
supination extending left index finger to again pass purple strand through forming a double loop.
Purple strand drawn 6
left with right hand and again grasped between thumb and index finger of left hand.
Horizontal tension is 8
applied with left hand toward and right hand away from the operator. This double loop must be placed in precise position for the final knot.
Surgeon's or Friction Knot Page 3 of 3
9 With thumb swung under white strand, purple strand is grasped between thumb and index finger of left hand and held over white strand with right hand.
10 Purple strand
released. Left hand supinates to regrasp purple strand with index finger beneath the loop of the white strand.
11 Purple strand
rotated beneath the white strand by supinating pinched thumb and index finger of left hand to draw purple strand through the loop. Right hand regrasps purple strandtocomplete
Hands continue to apply
horizontal tension with left hand away from and right hand toward the operator. Final tension on final throw should be as nearly
horizontal as possible.
the second throw square.
Deep Tie
Deep Tie Page 1 of 2
Tying deep in a body cavity can be difficult. The square knot must be firmly snugged down as in all situations.
However the operator must avoid upward tension which may tear or avulse the tissue.
1Strand looped Purple strand held in 2 around hook in right hand brought plastic cup on between left thumb Practice Board with and index finger. Left index finger of right hand turned inward hand which holds by pronation, and purple strand in palm thumb swung under of hand. White white strand to form strand held in left the first loop. hand.
3 By placing index finger of left hand on white strand, advance the loop into the cavity.
Horizontal tension 4 applied by pushing down on white strand with left index finger while maintaining counter-tension with index finger of right hand on purple strand.
Deep Tie Page 2 of 2
5 Purple strand looped over and under white strand with right hand.
6 Purple strand
looped around white strand to form second loop. This throw is advanced into the depths of the cavity.
7 Horizontal tension applied by pushing down on purple strand with right index finger while maintaining counter-tension on white strand with left index finger. Final tension should be as nearly horizontal as possible.
Ligation Around Hemostatic Clamp
Ligation Around Memostatic Clamp -More Common of Two Methods
Frequently it is necessary
to ligate a blood vessel or tissue grasped in a hemostatic clamp to
achieve hemostasis in the operative field.
1 When sufficient tissue has been cleared away to permit easy passage of the suture ligature, the white strand held in the right hand is passed behind the clamp.
3 To prepare for placing the knot
thhit
Left hand grasps free 2 end of the strand and gently advances it behind clamp until both ends are of equal length.
As the first throw 4
of the knot is completedthe
square, the white strand is
transferred to the right hand and the purple strand to the left hand, thus crossing the white strand over the purple.
assistant removes the clamp. This maneuver permits any tissue that may have been bunched in the clamp to be
securely crushed by the first throw. The second throw of the square knot is then completed with either a two-hand or one-hand technique as previously illustrated.
Ligation Around Hemostatic Clamp -Alternate Technique
Some surgeons prefer this
technique because the
operator never loses contact with the suture ligature as in the preceding technique.
1 Center of the strand placed in front of the tip of hemostatic clamp with purple strand held in right hand and white strand in left hand.
3 Purple strand crossed under white strand with left index finger andregrasped
Purple strand swung 2
behind clamp and grasped with index finger of left hand. Purple strand will be transferred to left hand and released by
right.
First throw is 4
completed in usual manner. Tension is placed onbothstrands
with right hand.
below the tip of the clamp as the first throw of the knot is tied. The assistant then removes the
clamp. The square knot is completed with either a two-hand or one-hand technique as previously illustrated.
Instrument Tie
Instrument Tie Page 1 of 2
The instrument tie is useful when one or both ends of the suture material are short. For best results, exercise caution when using a needleholder with PANACRYL* braided synthetic
absorbable suture or any monofilament suture, as repeated bending may cause these sutures to break.
1 Short purple strand lies Needleholder in right freely. Long white end hand grasps short of strand held between purple end of strand. thumb and index finger of left hand. Loop formed by placing
needleholder on side of strand away from the operator.
2
3 First half hitch completed by pulling
needleholder toward operator with right hand and drawing white strand away from operator.
Needleholder is released from purple strand.
White strand is
4 drawn toward operator with left hand and looped around
needleholder held in right hand. Loop is formed by placing
needleholder on side of strand toward the operator.
Instrument Tie Page 2 of 2
5 With end of the strand grasped by the needleholder, purple strand is drawn through loop in the white strand away from the operator.
Square knot
6 completed by horizontal tension applied with left hand holding white strand toward operator and purple strand in needleholder away from operator. Final tension
should be as nearly horizontal as possible.
Granny Knot
A granny knot is not recommended. However, it may be inadvertently tied by incorrectly
crossing the strands of a square knot. It is shown
only to warn against its use. It has the tendency to slip when subjected to increasing pressure.
Suture Materials
The requirement for wound support varies in different tissues from a few days for muscle, subcutaneous tissue, and skin; weeks or months for fascia and tendon; to long-term stability, as for a vascular prosthesis. The surgeon must be aware of these
differences in the healing rates of various tissues and organs. In addition, factors present in the individual patient, such as infection, debility, respiratory problems, obesity, etc., can influence the postoperative course and the rate of healing. Suture selection should be based on the knowledge of the physical and biologic characteristics of the material in relationship to the healing process. The surgeon wants to ensure that a suture will retain its strength until the tissue regains enough strength to keep the wound edges together on its own. In some tissue that might never regain preoperative strength, the surgeon will want suture material that retains strength for a long time. If a suture is going to be placed in tissue that heals rapidly, the surgeon may prefer to select a suture that will lose its tensile strength at about the same rate as the tissue gains strength and that will be absorbed by the tissue so that no foreign material remains in the wound once the tissue has healed. With all sutures, acceptable surgical practice must be followed with respect to drainage and closure of infected wounds. The amount of tissue reaction caused by the suture encourages or retards the healing process.
When all these factors are taken into account, the surgeon has several choices of suture materials available. Selection can then be made on the basis of familiarity with the material, its ease of handling, and other subjective preferences.
Sutures can conveniently be divided into two broad groups: absorbable and nonabsorbable. Regardless of its composition,
suture material is a foreign body to the human tissues in which it is implanted and to a greater or lesser degree will elicit a foreign body reaction.
Two major mechanisms of absorption result in the degradation of absorbable sutures. Sutures of biological origin such as surgical gut are gradually digested by tissue enzymes. Sutures
manufactured from synthetic polymers are principally broken down by hydrolysis in tissue fluids.
Nonabsorbable sutures made from a variety of nonbio-degradable materials are ultimately encapsulated or walled off by the body?s fibroblasts. Nonabsorbable sutures ordinarily remain where they
are buried within the tissues. When used for skin closure, they must be removed postoperatively.
A further subdivision of suture materials is useful: monofilament and multifilament. A monofilament suture is made of a single strand. It resists harboring microorganisms, and it ties down smoothly. A multifilament suture consists of several filaments twisted or braided together. This gives good handling and tying qualities. However, variability in knot strength among
multifilament sutures might arise from the technical aspects of the braiding or twisting process.
The sizes and tensile strengths for all suture materials are
standardized by U.S.P. regulations. Size denotes the diameter of the material. Stated numerically, the more zeroes (0's) in the number, the smaller the size of the strand. As the number of 0's decreases, the size of the strand increases. The 0's are designated as 5-0, for example, meaning 00000 which is smaller than a size 4-0. The smaller the size, the less tensile strength the strand will have. Tensile strength of a suture is the measured pounds of tension that the strand will withstand before it breaks when knotted. (Refer to Absorbable Sutures & Nonabsorbable Sutures section)
Principles of Suture Selection
The surgeon has a choice of suture materials from which to select for use in body tissues. Adequate strength of the suture material will prevent suture breakage. Secure knots will prevent knot
slippage. But the surgeon must understand the nature of the suture material, the biologic forces in the healing wound, and the
interaction of the suture and the tissues. The following principles should guide the surgeon in suture selection.
1. When a wound has reached maximal strength, sutures are no longer needed. Therefore:
a. Tissues that ordinarily heal slowly such as skin, fascia, and tendons should usually be closed with nonabsorbable sutures. An absorbable suture with extended (up to 6 months) wound support may also be used. b. Tissues that heal rapidly such as stomach,colon, and bladder may be closed with absorbable sutures. 2. Foreign bodies in potentially contaminated tissues may convert contamination to infection. Therefore: a. Avoid multifilament sutures which may convert a contaminated wound into an infected one. b. Use monofilament or absorbable sutures in potentially contaminated tissues. 3. Where cosmetic results are important, close and prolonged apposition of wounds and avoidance of irritants will produce the best result. Therefore:
a. Use the smallest inert monofilament suture materials such as nylon or polypropylene. b. Avoid skin sutures and close subcuticularly, whenever possible. c. Under certain circumstances, to secure close apposition of skin edges, a topical skin adhesive or skin closure tape may be used. 4. Foreign bodies in the presence of fluids containing high concentrations of crystalloids may act as a nidus for precipitation and stone formation. Therefore:
a.Intheurinaryandbiliarytract,userapidlyabsorbed
sutures.
5. Regarding suture size:
a. Use the finest size, commensurate with the natural strength of the tissue. b. If the postoperative course of the patient may produce
sudden strains on the suture line, reinforce it with retention sutures. Remove them as soon as the patient?s condition is stabilized.
Metric Measures and U.S.P Suture Diameter Equivalents U.S.P. Size
11-10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-0 1 2 3 4 5 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Natural
- 0.2 0.3 0.50.71.01.52.03.03.54.05.06.07.0 8.0 - -
Collagen Synthetic
- 0.2 0.3 0.40.50.71.01.52.03.03.54.05.06.0 6.0 7.0 -
Absorbables Nonabsorbable 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.40.50.71.01.52.03.03.54.05.06.0 6.0 7.0 8.0Materials
Absorbable Sutures
Absorbable Sutures Page 1
The United States Pharmacopeia (U.S.P.) defines an absorbable surgical suture as a \"sterile strand prepared from collagen derived from healthy mammals or a synthetic polymer. It is capable of being absorbed by living mammalian tissue, but may be treated to modify its resistance to absorption. It may be impregnated or coated with a suitable antimicrobial agent. It may be colored by a color additive approved by the Federal Food and Drug Administration (F.D.A.).\"
The United States Pharmacopeia, Twentieth Revision, Official from July 1,
1980.
Absorbable Suture Materials Most Commonly Used
COLOR OF RAW MATERIAL
MATERIAL
Yellowish-Collagen derived from
healthy beef and tan
sheep.
Blue Dyed
TENSILE
STRENGTH ABSORPTION RETENTION RATE in vivo Individual Absorbed by patient proteolytic characteristics enzymatic can affect rate digestive of tensile process. strength loss. Individual Absorbed by patient proteolytic characteristics enzymatic can digestive affect rate of process. tensile
strength loss.
Approximately Essentially 75% remains complete
at two weeks. between 56-70 Approximately days.
50% remains Absorbed by at three weeks. hydrolysis. Approximately Essentially SUTURE Surgical Gut Suture
TYPES Plain
Surgical Gut Suture
Chromic
Collagen derived from healthy beef and
Blue Dyed sheep. Brown
Coated VICRYL (polyglactin 910) Suture
Braided Violet
Monofilament Undyed
(Natural)
Copolymer of lactide and glycolide coated with polyglactin 370 and calcium stearate.
Coated Braided Undyed Copolymer of lactide VICRYL RAPIDE (polyglactin 910) Suture
(Natural)
MONOCRYL Monofilament Undyed (poliglecaprone (Natural) 25) Suture
Violet
PDS II Monofilament Violet (polydioxanone) Suture Blue
Clear
PANACRYL Braided Braided Synthetic Absorbable Suture
Undyed (White)
and glycolide coated 50% remains complete by 42 with polyglactin 370 at 5 days. All days. Absorbed and calcium stearate. tensile by hydrolysis.
strength is lost at
approximately 14 days.
Copolymer of Approximately Complete at glycolide and epsilon-50-60% 91-119 days. caprolactone. (violet: 60-Absorbed by
70%) remains hydrolysis. at one week. Approximately 20-30% (violet: 30-40%) remains at two weeks. Lost within three weeks (violet: four weeks).
Polyester polymer. Approximately Minimal until
70% remains about 90th day. at two weeks. Essentially Approximately complete 50% remains within six at four weeks. months. Approximately Absorbed by 25% remains slow
at six weeks. hydrolysis.
Copolymer of lactide Approximately Essentially and glycolide coated 80% remains complete with at 3 months. between 18 and caprolactone/glycolide.Approximately 30 months.
60% remains Absorbed by at 6 months. slow
Approximately hydrolysis. 20% remains at 12 months.
Trademarks of ETHICON, INC. are capitalized.
Absorbable Sutures Page 2
The United States Pharmacopeia (U.S.P.) defines an absorbable surgical suture as a \"sterile strand prepared from collagen derived from healthy mammals or a synthetic polymer. It is capable of being absorbed by living mammalian tissue, but may be treated to modify its resistance to absorption. It may be impregnated or coated with a suitable antimicrobial agent. It may be colored by a color additive approved by the Federal Food and Drug Administration (F.D.A.).\"
The United States Pharmacopeia, Twentieth Revision, Official from July 1,
1980.
COLOR
FREQUENT HOW
SUTURE CONTRAINDICATIONS CODE OF USES SUPPLIED PACKETS
Moderate Being absorbable, should General soft 7-0 thru 3 Yellow reaction not be used where tissue with and
extended approximation approximation without of tissues under stress is and/or needles, required. Should not be ligation, and on used in patients with including use LIGAPAK known sensitivities or in ophthalmic dispensing allergies to collagen or procedures. reels chromium. Not for use in
cardiovascular 0 thru 1
with and
neurological CONTROL RELEASE tissues.
needles Moderate reaction
Being absorbable, should not be used where
extended approximation of tissues under stress is required. Should not be used in patients with known sensitivities or allergies to collagen or chromium.
General soft 7-0 thru 3 Beige tissue with and approximation without and/or needles, ligation, and on including use LIGAPAK in ophthalmic dispensing procedures. reels Not
0 thru 1 for use in
cardiovascular with and CONTROL neurological RELEASE tissues. needles
Minimal Being absorbable, should
acute not be used where
inflammatory extended approximation reaction of tissue is required.
General soft 8-0 thru 3 Violet
tissue with and approximation without and/or needles, ligation, and on including use LIGAPAK in ophthalmic dispensing procedures. reels Not
4-0 thru 2 for use in
cardiovascular with
CONTROL and
neurological RELEASE
needles tissues.
8-0 with attached beads for ophthalmic use
Minimal to Should not be used where Superficial .5-0 thru 1 Violet and moderate with Red extended approximation soft tissue acute of tissue under stress is approximation needles. inflammatory required or where wound of skin and reaction support beyond 7 days is mucosa only.
required.Superficial soft
tissue approximation of skin and mucosa only. Not for use in ligation, ophthalmic,
cardiovascular or
neurological procedures. 5-0 thru 1 with needles.
Not for use in ligation, ophthalmic, cardiovascular or neurological procedures.
Minimal Being absorbable, should General soft 6-0 thru 2 Coral acute not be used where with and tissue
inflammatory extended approximation approximation without
of tissue under needles and/or
stress is required. Undyed ligation. Not not indicated for use in for use in 3-0 thru 1 fascia. cardiovascular with
CONTROLor neurological CONTROL tissues, RELEASE microsurgery, needles. or
ophthalmic surgery.
Slight reaction
Being absorbable, should not be used where
prolonged approximation of tissues under stress is required. Should not be used with prosthetic devices, such as heart valves or synthetic grafts.
All types of 9-0 thru 2 Silver soft tissue with approximation, needles including
4-0 thru 1 pediatric
cardiovascular with
CONTROL and
RELEASE ophthalmic
procedures. needles Not for use in
9-0 thru 7-adult
0 with
cardiovascular
needles
tissue,
microsurgery, 7-0 thru 1 and neural with tissue. needles General soft 2-0 through Purple
2 with tissue
approximation needles and/or
ligation, and 2-0 through orthopaedic 1 with
uses including CONTROL RELEASE tendon and
needles ligament
repairs and reattachment to bone. Particularly useful where extended
wound support (up to 6 months) is desirable. Not for use in ophthalmic, cardiovascular, Minimal Being absorbable, should acute not be used where
inflammatory extended approximation reaction of tissue
beyond six months is required.
or neurological tissue.
Nonabsorbable Sutures
Nonabsorbable Sutures Page 1
By U.S.P. definition, \"nonabsorbable sutures are strands of material that are suitably resistant to the action of living mammalian tissue. A suture may be composed of a single or
multiple filaments of metal or organic fibers rendered into a strand by spinning, twisting, or braiding. Each strand is substantially
uniform in diameter throughout its length within U.S.P. limitations for each size. The material may be uncolored, naturally colored, or dyed with an F.D.A. approved dyestuff. It may be coated or uncoated; treated or untreated for capillarity.\"
Nonabsorbable Suture Materials Most Commonly Used
TENSILE
COLOR OF STRENGTH ABSORPTION RAW MATERIAL
RETENTION MATERIALRATE in vivo
Organic protein Violet Progressive Gradual called fibroin. degradation encapsulation
White of fiber may by fibrous
result in connective gradual loss tissue. of tensile strength over time.
316L stainless steel. Indefinite.
Nonabsorbable.
SUTURE TYPES
PERMA-HAND Silk Braided Suture
Surgical Stainless Steel Suture ETHILON Nylon Suture
Monofilament Silver
metallic
Multifilament Monofilament Violet Green Undyed (Clear)
Long-chain aliphatic Progressive Gradual polymers hydrolysis encapsulation Nylon 6 or Nylon 6,6.may result in by fibrous
gradual loss connective of tensile tissue. strength over time.
NUROLON Nylon Suture
Braided Violet Long-chain aliphatic Progressive Gradual
polymers hydrolysis encapsulation
Green Nylon 6 or Nylon 6,6.may result in by fibrous
gradual loss connective
Undyed
of tensile tissue.
(Clear)
strength over time.
Poly (ethylene terephthalate).
No Gradual
significant encapsulation change by fibrous known to connective occur in vivo. tissue. No Gradual
significant encapsulation change by fibrous knownto connective occur in vivo. tissue. Not subject to Nonabsorbable.degradation or weakening by action of tissue enzymes.
MERSILENE Braided Green Polyester Fiber Suture Monofilament Undyed
(White)
ETHIBOND EXCEL Braided Green Poly (ethylene Polyester Fiber Suture terephthalate) coated
Undyed with polybutilate. (White)
PROLENE Monofilament Clear Polypropylene Suture
Blue
Isotactic crystalline stereoisomer of polypropylene.
PRONOVA* Poly Monofilament Blue (hexafluoropropylene-VDF) Suture
Polymer blend of Not subject to Nonabsorbable.poly (vinylidene degradation fluoride) and poly or weakening (vinylidene fluoride-by action of co- tissue hexafluoropropylene).enzymes.
Trademarks of ETHICON, INC. are capitalized
Nonabsorbable Sutures Page 2
By U.S.P. definition, \"nonabsorbable sutures are strands of material that are suitably resistant to the action of living mammalian tissue. A suture may be composed of a single or
multiple filaments of metal or organic fibers rendered into a strand by spinning, twisting, or braiding. Each strand is substantially
uniform in diameter throughout its length within U.S.P. limitations for each size. The material may be uncolored, naturally colored, or dyed with an F.D.A. approved dyestuff. It may be coated or uncoated; treated or untreated for capillarity.\"
TISSUE FREQUENT
CONTRAINDICATIONS
REACTION USES
COLOR
HOW
CODE OF SUPPLIED
PACKETSLight Blue9-0 thru 5
Acute Should not be used in General soft
inflammatory patients with known tissue with and reaction sensitivities or allergiesto approximation without
silk and/or needles, and
ligation, on LIGAPAK
including dispensing cardiovascular, reels opthalmic and
neaurological 4-0 thru 1 procedures. with
CONTROL RELEASE needles
Minimal 10-0 thru 7 Should not be used in Abdominal acute with and patients with known wound
inflammatory sensitivities or allergies to closure, hernia without reaction 316L stainless steel, or repair, sternal needles
constituent metals such as closure and
chromium and nickel. orthopaedic
procedures including cerclage and tendon repair.
Yellow-Ochre
Minimal Should not be used where General soft 11-0 thru 2 acute with and permanent retention of tissue inflammatory tensile strength is approximation without reaction needles required. and/or
ligation,
including use in
cardiovascular, ophthalmic and
neurological procedures.
Minimal Should not be used where General soft 6-0 thru 1 acute permanent retention of tissue with and inflammatory tensile strength is approximation without reaction required. and/or needles
ligation,
including use 4-0 thru 1
with in
cardiovascular, CONTROL
RELEASE ophthalmic
needles and
neurological procedures.
Minimal None known. acute
inflammatory reaction
Mint Green
Mint Green
General soft 6-0 thru 5 Turquoisetissue with and approximation without and/or needles ligation,
including use 10-0 and 11-0
for opthalmic in
cardiovascular, (green
monofilament) ophthalmic
and
0 with
neurological
CONTROL
procedures.
RELEASE needles General soft 7-0 thru 5
with and tissue
approximation without
needles and/or
ligation,
includinguse4-0 thru 1
Orange
Minimal None known. acute
inflammatory reaction
including use with in CONTROL cardiovascular, RELEASE ophthalmic needles and
neurological various sizes procedures. attached to
TFE polymer pledgets
Minimal None known. acute
inflammatory reaction
General soft 6-0 thru 2 Deep Bluetissue (clear) with approximation and without and/or needles ligation,
including use 10-0 thru 8-0
and 6-0 thru 2 in
cardiovascular, (blue) with
and without ophthalmic
needles and
neurological
0 thru 2 wuth
procedures.
CONTROL RELEASE needles
various sizes attached to TFE polymer pledgets General soft 6-0 through 5-Royal tissue 0 with Blue approximation TAPERCUT* and/or surgical ligation, needle including use
8-0 through 5-in
cardiovascular, 0 with taper
point needle. ophthalmic
and
neurological procedures.
Minimal None known. acute
inflammatory reaction
Trademarks
The following are trademarks of ETHICON, INC.:
ATRALOC surgical needle
Coated VICRYL (polyglactin 910) suture
Coated VICRYL RAPIDE (polyglactin 910) suture CONTROL RELEASE needle/needle suture CS ULTIMA ophthalmic needle ETHALLOY needle alloy
ETHIBOND EXCEL polyester suture capitalized ETHICON sutures or products ETHILON nylon suture LIGAPAK dispensing reel
MERSILENE polyester fiber suture MICRO-POINT surgical needle
MONOCRYL (poliglecaprone 25) suture NUROLON nylon suture
PANACRYL braided synthetic absorbable suture P PRIME needle PC PRIME needle PS PRIME needle
PDS II (polydioxanone) suture PERMA-HAND silk suture
PROLENE polypropylene suture
PRONOVA poly (hexafluoropropylene-VDF) suture RELAY suture delivery system SABRELOC spatula needle TAPERCUT surgical needle
VICRYL (polyglactin 910) suture VISI-BLACK surgical needle
Surgical Needles
Necessary for the placement of sutures in tissue, surgical needles must be designed to carry suture material through tissue with minimal trauma. They must be sharp enough to penetrate tissue with minimal resistance. They should be rigid enough to resist bending, yet flexible enough to bend before breaking. They must be sterile and corrosion-resistant to prevent introduction of microorganisms or foreign bodies into the wound.
To meet these requirements, the best surgical needles are made of high quality stainless steel, a noncorrosive material. Surgical needles made of carbon steel may corrode, leaving pits that can harbor microorganisms. All ETHICON* stainless steel needles are heat-treated to give them the maximum possible strength and ductility to perform satisfactorily in the body tissues for which they are designed. ETHALLOY* needle alloy, a noncorrosive material, was developed for unsurpassed strength and ductility in precision needles used in cardiovascular, ophthalmic, plastic, and microsurgical procedures.
Ductility is the ability of the needle to bend to a given angle under a given amount of pressure, called load, without breaking. If too great a force is applied to a needle it may break, but a ductile needle will bend before breaking. If a surgeon feels a needle
bending, this is a signal that excessive force is being applied. The strength of a needle is determined in the laboratory by bending the needle 900; the required force is a measurement of the strength of the needle. If a needle is weak, it will bend too easily and can compromise the surgeon?s control and damage surrounding tissue during the procedure.
Regardless of ultimate intended use, all surgical needles have three basic components: the attachment end, the body, and the point. The majority of sutures used today have appropriate needles
attached by the manufacturer. Swaged sutures join the needle and suture together as a continuous unit that is convenient to use and minimizes tissue trauma. ATRALOC* surgical needles, which are permanently swaged to the suture strand, are supplied in a variety of sizes, shapes, and strengths. Some incorporate the CONTROL RELEASE* needle suture principle which facilitates fast separation of the needle from the suture when desired by the
surgeon. Even though the suture is securely fastened to the needle, a slight, straight tug on the needleholder will release it. This feature allows rapid placement of many sutures, as in interrupted suture techniques.
The body, or shaft, of a needle is the portion which is grasped by the needleholder during the surgical procedure. The body should be as close as possible to the diameter of the suture material. The curvature of the body may be straight, half-curved, curved, or compound curved. The cross-sectional configuration of the body may be round, oval, side-flattened rectangular, triangular, or trapezoidal. The oval, side-flattened rectangular, and triangular shapes may be fabricated with longitudinal ribs on the inside or outside surfaces. This feature provides greater stability of the needle in the needleholder.
The point extends from the extreme tip of the needle to the
maximum cross-section of the body. The basic needle points are cutting, tapered, or blunt. Each needle point is designed and
produced to the required degree of sharpness to smoothly penetrate the types of tissue to be sutured.
Surgical needles vary in size and wire gauge. The diameter is the gauge or thickness of the needle wire. This varies from 30 microns (.001 inch) to 56 mil (.045 inch, 1.4 mm). Very small needles of fine gauge wire are needed for micro-surgery. Large, heavy gauge needles are used to penetrate the sternum and to place retention sutures in the abdominal wall. A broad spectrum of sizes are available between these two extremes.
Of the many types available, the specific needle selected for use is determined by the type of tissue to be sutured, the location and accessibility, size of the suture material, and the surgeon's preference.
Practice Board
Practice Board*
The KNOT TYING MANUAL and practice board are available from ETHICON, INC., without charge for all learners of suturing and knot tying techniques.
*Contributing Designer-Bashir Zikria, MD, FACS
Selected Terms
Measures how quickly a suture is absorbed, or broken down by the body. Refers only to the
Absorption Rate presence or absence of suture material and not
to the amount of strength remaining in the suture.
Measures tensile strength (see below) retained
Breaking by a suture in vivo over time. For example, a Strength suture with an initial tensile strength of 20 lbs. Retention (BSR) and 50% of its BSR at 1 week has 10 lbs. of
tensile strength in vivo at 1 week.
The characteristic of suture stretch during knot tying and recovery thereafter. Familiarity with a
Extensibility
suture's extensibility will help the surgeon know when the suture knot is snug.
Refers to a suture's tendency to retain kinks or
Memory bends (set by the material's extrusion process or
packaging) instead of lying flat.
Describes a suture made of a single strand or
Monofilament
filament.
Describes a suture made of several braided or
Multifilament
twisted strands or filaments.
The measured pounds of tension that a knotted
Tensile Strength
suture strand can withstand before breaking. An organization that promotes the public health by establishing and disseminating officially
United States
recognized standards of quality and
Pharmacopeia
authoritative information for the use of
(U.S.P.)
medicines and other health care technologies by health professionals, patients, and consumers.
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