Computational Modeling of Post-Sutured Tissue Performance

Abstract

Efficiency of post-operative sutured tissues depends on the state stress and strain, affecting the rate of wound healing. The objective of this study was to examine, the effect of suture size and stiffness, on the deformation of an incised continuous tissue. A simple running suture configuration was modeled and analyzed using 3D Finite Element Method (FEM). Prolene suture thread (Ethicon Inc.) of size 7-0 and 8-0 with varying material stiffness in the range of 6240 MPa to 30 MPa have been used whereas CryoValve aorta graft (Cryo Life Inc.) is considered as tissue material. Results show that the suture size has major impact on the deformation state of the tissue than the suture stiffness. Even though the difference in material stiffness caused a negligible change in strain, there is 55% increase in max principal strain away from suture line. Moreover, altering the suture size from 7-0 to 8-0 resulted in a 12% reduction in max tissue stresses. Because of the localization of max stress around the corner holes of the flaw, there is a fair chance of damage initiation at this location.