HISTOLOGIC EVALUATION OF TISSUE REACTIVITY AND ABSORPTION IN RESPONSETO A NEW SYNTHETIC FLUORESCENT PIGMENTED POLYPROPYLENE SUTURE MATERIAL IN RATS

The degree and type of tissue reactivity and the absorption of a new s uture material was determined by implantation within rat gluteal muscl es. Amount and type of tissue inflammatory reaction was compared among the new suture material, polypropylene, and coated polyamide. Histolo gic evaluation of the tissues in which sutures were implanted indicate d that the new suture material, polypropylene, and coated polyamide ha d similar amounts and types of reaction at 30 days or less after impla ntation, but differed after 30 daps. The new suture material and polyp ropylene had an inflammatory reaction zone measuring less than 25% of the high-power field after 60 days, but the coated polyamide still ind uced reaction greater than 45% of the field at 90 days. At 60 and 90 d ays after implantation, the new suture material and polypropylene indu ced a mature fibrous reaction; the reaction to coated polyamide was ei ther immature fibrous or granulomatous, depending on whether there was rupture of the suture coat. There was no observable absorption of the new suture material at 90 days. This Study indicated that the new sut ure material is nonabsorbable and is minimally reactive in rat muscle. The tissue reactions induced by this suture material are similar to t hose of polypropylene and significantly less than those induced by coa ted polyamide after 30 days following implantation.