Evaluation of FiberLoop sutures in locking and nonlocking tendon repair.

Abstract

UNLABELLED:

The FiberLoop suture has been developed as a double stranded, double-armed suture of FiberWire, but has not been previously studied. This is a comparison study of FiberLoop, FiberWire, and Ethibond.

METHODS:

Six groups of bovine tendons were randomly sorted for testing. They were cut and repaired using FiberWire, FiberLoop, and Ethibond with modified Kessler and modified Krackow repair techniques. A 4-0 core suture was used and tested to failure.

RESULTS:

Both FiberLoop and FiberWire were significantly stronger than Ethibond regardless of the repair technique used. There was no difference between the nonlocking and locking repair technique in any of the suture groups. However, the nonlocking technique failed by tissue pull through while the locking technique failed by suture breakage.

CONCLUSIONS:

The FiberLoop suture and the FiberWire suture were significantly stronger than the Ethibond suture. Additionally, this study shows that the 4-0 suture is of adequate strength to repair a tendon injury. The double-armed Fiberloop may translate into quicker tendon repairs without sacrificing strength.

• Authors: Michael P Cash, Joseph M Sherrill, Thanapong Waitayawinyu, Thomas R Hunt 3rd, R Bruce Shack, Wesley P Thayer
• Journal: Annals of plastic surgery (Ann Plast Surg) Vol. 68 Issue 6 Pg. 583-7 (Jun 2012) ISSN: 1536-3708 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 21734555 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Evaluation Study, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Ethibond
• Polyethylene Terephthalates

Topics

• Analysis of Variance
• Animals
• Cattle
• Equipment Failure Analysis
• In Vitro Techniques
• Materials Testing
• Polyethylene Terephthalates
• Random Allocation
• Range of Motion, Articular
• Suture Techniques
• Sutures
• Tendon Injuries (surgery)
• Tendons (surgery)
• Tensile Strength