A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF VICRYL SUTURES 6-0 AND 7-0 STRENGTH CAPACITY FOR STRABISMUS SURGERY

Abstract

Purpose. A comparative study of vicryl sutures 6-0 and 7-0 durability.Material and methods. The study was conducted in 20 enucleated pig eyes, divided into 2 groups (10 eyes each). We used vicryl suture 7-0 in the main group and 6-0 for control eyes. After surgical recession of the medial rectus we used the INSTRON 3382 dual column floor model testing system to access extensibility, increasing suture strain. At the moment of the first suture rupture we measured strain and muscle elongation.Results. On average, vicryl suture 7-0 endured half the strain and muscle elongation before the rupture than vicryl 6-0. But this kind of stress reduction is not critical for the overall result, because to tear a muscle sutured with a fine thread, extraocular muscles would still need 4 times the force they naturally possess.Conclusion. Fine vicryl 7-0 thread possesses the necessary characteristics for oculomotor muscles surgery.

Keywords

• strabismus surgery
• oculomotor muscles
• vicryl 7-0
• suture material