Experimental and clinical study of fast absorption cutaneous suture material.

Fast Absorption Vicryl was irradiated with gamma rays. The experimental study on 14 mice grafted with human skin showed a constant rupture of the sutures on the 12th day, with the development of a moderate macrophage reaction. Injection of isotonic saline around the suture material did not accelerate the process of resorption. The clinical study with 27 children operated on the limbs showed rupture of the sutures between the 12th and 16th days, without inflammatory reaction, infection or wound dehiscence. Simply wiping the wound with a compress removes the stitches painlessly. This is appreciated by the young subject and his or her family. Since we began to use FAV systematically we have not needed to conduct dressing under anesthesia. The long term results of healing (follow-up: 11.3 months) are similar to those obtained with conventional non-absorbable suture material. The tolerance, the rapid resorption, the comfort of the patient and the cost advantage make FAV the suture material of choice.