Physical properties of surgical suture materials: Stress-strain relationship, stress-relaxation and irreversible elongation.

The stress-strain relationship, the stress-relaxation and the irreversible elongation of different suture materials were investigated. It was found that the distensibility of the fibers varied greatly. Most fibers were found to be chiefly elastic but some fibers were elastic when a moderate load was applied and plastic when the load increased. Some fibers, especially Prolene, were plastic also when moderate load was applied. The importance of information concerning these and other physical properties of surgical suture material is pointed out. In the future, surgeons will not have to accept suture materials with unknown physical properties but will demand fibers with defined properties for every purpose.