Product Manual

A distinction must be made between the rate of absorption and the rate of tensile
strength loss of the suture material. The terms rate of absorption and rate of
tensile strength loss are not interchangeable. Although the rate of absorption is
of some importance with regard to late suture complications, such as sinus tracts
and granulomas, the rate of tensile strength loss is of much greater importance
to the surgeon considering the primary function of the suture, maintaining tissue
approximation during healing.
When considering an absorbable suture’s tensile strength in vivo, we recommend
that the manufacturer provide specific measurements of its holding capacity,
rather than the percentage retained of its initial tensile strength. The United
States Pharmacopoeia (USP) has set tensile strength standards for synthetic
absorbable suture material. If the manufacturers were to use these standards to
describe maintenance of tensile strength, the surgeon would have a valid clinical
perspective to judge suture performance. Some manufacturers persist in reporting
maintenance of the tensile strength of their suture in tissue by referring only to
the percentage retained of its initial tensile strength, making comparisons between
III. scientific basis for the selection of surgical sutures (cont’d)
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