[Laboratory analysis of the flax suture materials]

The author presents the results of initial investigations of linen surgical sutures produced by the Laboratory of Linen Industry in Zyrardów. B. Braun and Ethicon linen sutures were used as control. Knot-pull tensile strength before and after sterilization (gas sterilization--ethylene oxide, radiation sterilization--with accelerated electrons), wettability and surface structure were tested. pH electric conductivity and evaporated dry remains were tested in water extracts. The investigations were performed as on initial selection of sutures for in vivo tests. The performed laboratory investigations revealed, that the quality of the polish varieties of linen threads was suitable and comparable to the quality of the control linen threads of foreign origin.