Effect of different suture materials on cartilage reshaping

Area of Science:

• Plastic Surgery
• Biomaterials Science
• Surgical Techniques

Background:

• Suturing is crucial for nasal cartilage reshaping, but optimal material and long-term effects remain unestablished.
• Current data lacks comprehensive analysis of suture material impact on cartilage remodeling.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate if absorbable suture materials can achieve comparable long-term cartilage reshaping effects to permanent materials.
• To compare the efficacy of different suture types in maintaining cartilage shape.

Main Methods:

• A rabbit ear model was used to simulate transdomal sutures, creating cartilaginous folds.
• Nylon served as a control, with absorbable sutures (plain catgut, monocryl, polydioxanone [PDS]) tested on the contralateral ear.
• Folds were assessed after 3 months for dimensions and histological changes.

Main Results:

• Polydioxanone (PDS) and nylon sutures yielded comparable results in maintaining cartilaginous fold height.
• Nylon demonstrated significantly better outcomes than monocryl and plain catgut (P < .05).
• Higher fold height correlated with increased adipose tissue within the fold (P < .05).

Conclusions:

• Polydioxanone (PDS) sutures are as effective as nylon for creating durable cartilaginous folds in this model.
• Absorbable sutures like PDS can achieve long-lasting results, suggesting permanent materials may not always be necessary.
• The choice of suture material significantly impacts the longevity of cartilage reshaping outcomes.