Locking mechanism strength of absorbable ligating devices.

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Surgical Device Engineering
• Veterinary Medicine

Background:

• Absorbable ligating clips and staples are crucial in surgical procedures.
• Understanding the in vivo degradation and mechanical integrity of these devices is vital for patient safety and surgical outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate and compare the short-term locking mechanism strength and durability of absorbable Absolok and Lactomer ligating clips and Lactomer staples after subcutaneous implantation in rabbits.

Main Methods:

• Absorbable Absolok and Lactomer ligating clips (three sizes each) and Lactomer staples (one size) were implanted subcutaneously in rabbits within nylon pouches.
• Devices were retrieved at 4, 7, 14, 21, and 28 days post-implantation.
• Tensile testing was performed on the locking mechanisms to determine their strength.

Main Results:

• Absolok clips demonstrated stable lock mechanism strength up to 21 days of implantation.
• Lactomer clips and staples exhibited a significant decrease in lock mechanism strength within 7 days, with further degradation over time.
• A portion of Lactomer devices dissolved, precluding testing at later time points (21 and 28 days).

Conclusions:

• The locking mechanisms of absorbable ligating clips exhibit significant differences in short-term (30-day) durability.
• Absolok clips offer superior short-term mechanical integrity compared to Lactomer clips and staples.
• These findings have implications for the selection of absorbable surgical devices based on required in vivo performance.