CHARACTERISTICS OF POLY(L-)LACTIC ACID SUTURE APPLIED TO FASCIAL CLOSURE IN RATS

A new poly(L-)lactic acid (PLLA) thread was tested by applying it in f ascial closures of male Wistar rats. The tissue reactions around the t hread and in the fascial union, and the changes on the surface and the mechanical properties of the thread were evaluated at 1, 3, 6, 12, 28 , and 52 weeks following surgery. Histologically, the extension of the general inflammatory reaction and the number of the different cell ty pes did not markedly change during the 52-week follow-up period. The s urface of the thread was intact up to 28 weeks when examined with the scanning electron microscope. At 52 weeks no thread was found. The bre aking force and the stretching of the incubated PLLA thread was reduce d about 20% during the first 2 weeks and it remained constant up to 6 weeks. The in vivo testing of the fascial strips closed with the PLLA thread retained their resistance against the breaking force, nearly co mparable to that of the intact control fascial strips. It can be concl uded that the PLLA thread is a suitable suture for wounds that require healing time of up to 28 weeks and thus need good support from the su ture. (C) 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.