"Staying power"--absorbable vs. nonabsorbable

An experiment was designed to compare the "holding power" or "staying power" of absorbable (polyglycolic acid and polyglactin 910) and nonabsorbable (nylon) suture. The aim of this experiment was to determine what provides the lasting strength of the bond between soft tissues that are approximated or plicated. When correcting the rectus diastasis during abdominoplasty, we used nylon sutures in 15 patients and absorbable synthetic sutures in 15 other patients. We then marked the closed folds of the rectus sheath with small metal vascular clips. Two days later and approximately 6 months after operation an upright anteroposterior abdominal x-ray was taken and the position of the metal clips was compared in the test groups. Although there was usually slight separation of the clips after 6 months, no significant difference between the two groups was noted, thereby indicating that holding power is not related to type of suture material but more likely to fibroplasia.