MONOCRYL(R) SUTURE, A NEW ULTRA-PLIABLE ABSORBABLE MONOFILAMENT SUTURE

Synthetic absorbable sutures are available as braided constructions or as monofilaments. Braided absorbable sutures are made either from 90: 10 poly(glycolide-co-L(-)-lactide), sold by Ethicon, Inc. under the tr ade name Vicryl(R), or from polyglycolide, as sold, for instance, by D avis and Geck under the trade name Dexon(R). There are, however, some concerns with braided sutures that relate to tissue drag and the traum a this may cause, as well as the possible potentiation of infection th rough the interstices of the braid structure. Absorbable monofilaments , such as the monofilament sutures derived from p-dioxanone homopolyme r (PDS II(R), an Ethicon, Inc. product), or a copolymer of trimethylen e carbonate and glycolide (Maxon(R), a Davis and Geck product), elimin ate many of these concerns, but generally monofilaments do not handle as well as braids. This paper describes the research leading to the in troduction of Monocryl (poliglecaprone 25) monofilament sutures, based on segmented block copolymers of epsilon-caprolactone and glycolide. Monocryl sutures will be shown to display excellent handling propertie s, minimal resistance during passage through tissue and excellent tens ile properties. These sutures provide an in vivo breaking strength ret ention of approximately 20-30% after 2 weeks, considered by many to be the critical wound healing period. Absorption data on these sutures a re presented; absorption is complete between the 91st and 119th days o f implantation, with slight or minimal tissue reaction.