The physical properties of polyglycolic acid sutures (Dexon) in sterile and infected urine.

In a series of in vitro tests the time-dependent alteration of the resistance to breaking and of the extensibility of catgut and of polyglycolic acid sutures (Dexon) was examined. The threads were incubated in sterile and infected urine up to 10 days at 36 C. In the sterile urine environment Dexon dissolved on the 6th day and in the infected urine on the 3rd day. Catgut did not dissolve at all in the sterile urine and in the infected urine it dissolved only on the 8th day. In view of these results the use of Dexon in the urine environment may cause some concern, especially in an infection exists.