The broken wire suture

The body is a hostile environment for wire sutures. Although the problems of electrochemical corrosion, direct chemical attack on the suture, and inflammation produced in reaction to the suture have been largley eliminated by the use of austenitic stainless steel wires, failure of the wires may still occur due to mechano-chemical cracking -- the combined effect of insignificant stresses, usually from cold working, and insignificant chemical potentials produced by body fluids. Although stainless steel wire remains a satisfactory material for sternotomy closure or for reattaching costal cartilages, the two spectacular complications of a broken wire point out the need for care in using wire sutures. Bending, twisting, kinking and knotting must be avoided as much as possible.