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Assessment of Needle Point Behavior in Cartilage: Investigating Puncture Force and Suture Retention
McKenzie E Maloney, Christian T Potter, Benjamin D Chun
1Division of Plastic Surgery, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Boston, MA.
Annals of Plastic Surgery
|September 11, 2025
Summary
Taper point needles are better for suturing cartilage than reverse cutting needles. They require similar puncture forces but cause less tearing, reducing cartilage trauma.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedic surgery
- Biomedical engineering
- Materials science
Background:
- Suturing cartilage presents challenges, including tissue shredding from repeated needle passes.
- Evaluating needle geometry is crucial for optimizing cartilage repair techniques.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the force required for cartilage puncture between two needle geometries.
- To assess the suture retention strength and tearing propensity of different needle types in cartilage.
Main Methods:
- Fresh rabbit ear cartilage was used to measure puncture and tear-through forces using a tensiometer.
- Taper point needles (RB-1, TF, BB, C-1) and reverse cutting needles (PS-2, P-3, PS-3) with various sutures were tested.
Main Results:
- Puncture forces ranged from 0.61 N to 0.90 N across tested needles.
- Tear-through forces varied, with taper point needles generally showing higher retention strength compared to reverse cutting needles.
- Reverse cutting needles exhibited a greater tendency to tear cartilage during suture pull-through.
Conclusions:
- Both needle geometries require comparable forces for initial cartilage puncture.
- Reverse cutting needles are associated with increased cartilage tearing, suggesting potential for greater tissue trauma.
- Taper point needles may provide superior suture retention and minimize cartilage damage during surgical repair.
