[In vivo investigations on suture reactions under sterile and not sterile conditions. Comparison of absorbable and nonabsorbable suture materials (author's transl)].

Suture materials from plant and animal substances are increasingly being replaced by synthetics. Among the nonabsorbable materials, synthetics are much superior regarding infection, threading and knot strength. A coating can improve management, which is currently more favourable with silk and cotton. Absorbable polyglycolic-acid sutures enable controlled reduction of thread breaking, but catgut sutures do not. Absorption is significantly accelerated by infections, while pH-fluctuation is less important. For infected tissue, monofile or pseudomonofile sutures are most suitable.