Suture Tape With Broad Full-Width Core Versus Traditional Round Suture With Round Core: A Mechanical Comparison

To compare the inherent mechanical properties of suture in tape configuration with a flat, evenly distributed core to a round suture with a round core composed of the same materials.

SutureTape and FiberWire composed of equivalent materials were used to tie surgical knots. Knot height was measured. Knot security was measured at the maximum load at 1, 2, and 3 mm of displacement and at failure. Tensile strength and stiffness were measured using untied samples.

SutureTape demonstrated superior knot security with greater ultimate load to failure (327.2 ± 15.4 N vs 257.4 ± 12.2 N; P = .002), maximum load at 1 mm of displacement (149.8 ± 18.6 N vs 108.8 ± 13.8 N; P = .001), and 2 mm of displacement (242.7 ± 38.6 N vs 181.2 ± 24.4 N; P = .008). It also demonstrated greater stiffness (5.4 ± 0.3 N/mm vs 2.8 ± 0.3 N/mm; P < .001) and tensile strength (378.8 ± 13.6 N vs 235.6 ± 4.8 N). Knot height differences (1.27 ± .11 mm vs 1.37 ± .08 mm; P = .110) and load at 3 mm of displacement (279.3 ± 42.4 N vs 225.5 ± 46.1 N; P = .062) were not statistically significant.

During mechanical testing, SutureTape with a broad core distributed over the full width of the tape demonstrated greater knot security, ultimate load to failure, and tensile stiffness than FiberWire, a round core suture. We found no significant difference in knot stack height between the suture designs.

The study demonstrates the superior mechanical properties of suture in tape configuration over similarly composed round suture without a significant difference in knot stack height. Suture in tape configuration has the potential to perform as well as round suture in the clinical setting.