Experimental analysis of tensile properties of some suturing materials

The aim of the investigation is to quantitatively evaluate the failure load of several suture materials currently used in dentistry surgery. No chromic catgut, silk, Prolene, Ethilon, Ethibond, Vicryl and Vicryl Rapid, obtained from Ethicon s.p.a., in the sizes 3-0, 4-0, and 5-0 have been tested. The analysis has been carried out measuring the diameter of each suture with an optical microscope to determine the accuracy of manufacturers' data. Tensile testing has been performed to evaluate the failure load of each material. Finally, sutures of the same effective diameter class have been compared relative to failure load. Results show that monofilament sutures present a failure load remarkably superior to that of multifilament sutures. Using SEM analysis monofilament sutures present less surface irregularities than multifilament sutures. Only monofilaments Ethilon 4-0 and 5-0, Prolene 4-0, and multifilament no chromic catgut 4-0 and 5-0 meet the requirements of the Italian Pharmacopeia. In contrast, Prolene 5-0 and the other multifilaments, silk, Ethibond, Vicryl and Vicryl rapid, have a larger diameter than that declared on the label by the producer.