Product Manual

construction of additional throws with these sutures does not enhance the suture
holding capacity, but plays a key factor in precipitating suture extrusion. Finally,
it is important to emphasize that the surgeon must always construct symmetrical
surgical knots for dermal subcuticular skin closure in which the constructed knot
is always positioned perpendicular to the linear wound incision. Asymmetrical
knot construction for dermal wound closure becomes an obvious invitation for
suture extrusion.
A monofilament absorbable suture (Maxon™) has been developed using
trimethylene carbonate.
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Glycolide trimethylene carbonate is a linear copolymer
made by reacting trimethylene carbonate and glycolide with diethylene glycol
as an initiator and stannous chloride dihydrate as the catalyst. The strength of
the monofilament synthetic absorbable suture, glycolide trimethylene carbonate
(Maxon™), is maintained in vivo much longer than that of the braided synthetic
absorbable suture. This monofilament suture retained approximately 50% of its
breaking strength after implantation for 28 days, and still retained 25% of its
original strength at 42 days. In contrast, braided absorbable sutures retained only
1% to 5% of their strength at 28 days. Absorption of the trimethylene carbonate
III. scientific basis for the selection of surgical sutures (cont’d)
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