Product Manual

hypertrophic scar formation because of its special properties allowing it to adapt
to changing tensions in the wound. Increased closure tension of the skin in the
midline region above the pubic bone may be caused by a relative immobility of
the skin. In 1997, Pinheiro et al.
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compared the performance of polybutester
sutures to that of nylon sutures in 70 male and female rats in which they
examined the clinical response of the skin in abdominal wall muscle to the use
of these sutures. Under general anesthesia, standard wounds were created in the
dorsum and abdomen of the animals and subjected to suture closure with either
polybutester or nylon. The animals were sacrificed immediately, 12, 24, and 72
hours and at four, five and seven days to evaluate the impact of the sutures on
the wounds. They found that polybutester produced some advantages such as
strength, lack of package memory, elasticity, and flexibility which made suturing
quicker and easier. They concluded that Novafil™ suture can be used safely on
skin and mucosal wounds because it is less irritating to tissues than nylon.
The clinical performance of polybutester suture has been enhanced by coating its
surface with a unique absorbable polymer (Vascufil™).
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The coating is a poly-
tribolate polymer that is composed of three compounds: gylcolide, e-caprolactone,
III. scientific basis for the selection of surgical sutures (cont’d)
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