Making strong cords from surgical sutures

The authors present a simple and cost effective technique of preparing strong cords from surgical sutures. The technique requires suture material, a drill, a clip and it takes less than a minute to prepare. The mechanical strength of the cord obtained by this method was compared to the mechanical strength of a single suture. Cords containing eight thicknesses of the suture material failed at slightly under eight times the single suture strength. A loop made out of cords of number 2 Vicryl or Dexon failed at loads of more than 1000 N. The authors have found these cords extremely useful and effective for reconstruction of the dislocated acromio-clavicular joint and also for the fixation of trans-femoral osteotomies.