[Polydioxanon (PDS)--a new monofilar synthetic, absorbable suture material. Tensile strength studies in a controlled clinical trial on the large intestine of humans and physical parameters in in vitro tests].

We investigated the properties of tensile strength for the following suture materials: Polyglycolic acid (2. and 3.generation), Polyglactin 910 (3.generation) and Polydioxanon. They were situated within human large bowels for 10 to 12 days and investigated in a controlled experimental procedure. The decrease of the tensile strength in the human large bowel is significantly slower for polydioxanon suture (PDS) than for PGA (2. and 3.generation) and Polyglactin 910 (3.generation) suture. As PDS-suture are primarily less tractable than the others, there is no significant difference of tractability between all sutures after 11 days of implantation within the human colon. For PGA (3.generation) and Polyglactin 910 we found a strong loss of tractability after 10 to 12 days. In a second experimental series tensile strength, knot breaking security and knot holding capacity were tested in a tensiometer for absorbable suture materials with 3 and 6 parallel knots. The tensile strength was higher than the knot security for all sutures. Coated suture material (PGA and Polyglactin 910, both 3.generation) as well as the new monofile polydioxanon must be knotted manyfold for a secure knot position.