Sutures in dermatosurgery

Dermatological surgery: an update on suture materials and techniques. Part 2

“…1,4,6,7 The Vicryl TM (Ethicon, Bridgewater, NJ, USA) suture degrades enzymatically, which is thought to prevent bacterial growth and may counteract this. 8 A double-blind, split-scar, randomized controlled trial (RCT) of 20 patients undergoing facial rhytidectomy (80 suture sites) compared a monofilament (PDS â II; Ethicon) with a braided (Vicryl TM ) dermal suture (Table 1); the scars were evaluated at 5 months and 1 year by a single surgeon, and no significant difference in wound healing or scar outcome was found at 1 year. 6 A prospective nonrandomized single-centre study (n = 584) used either monofilament (Maxon TM ; Medtronic, Minneapolis, MN, USA) or braided (Vicryl TM ; Ethicon) sutures for buried suturing of Mohs defects.…”

“…However, owing to their multifilament structure, it is believed they may harbour micro‐organisms and carry an increased risk of surgical site infections (SSIs), although evidence for this is lacking 1,4,6,7 . The Vicryl™ (Ethicon, Bridgewater, NJ, USA) suture degrades enzymatically, which is thought to prevent bacterial growth and may counteract this 8 …”

“…Coated sutures are not believed to affect suture properties and are more expensive than their standard nonantibacterial counterparts. They are available as Vicryl Plus™ (£3.63 vs. £2.88 for standard), Monocryl Plus™ (£4.17 vs. £3.20 for standard) and PDS ® II Plus (£4.94 vs. £3.98 for standard) (all Ethicon) 8,13 …”

“…They are available as Vicryl Plus TM (£3.63 vs. £2.88 for standard), Monocryl Plus TM (£4.17 vs. £3.20 for standard) and PDS â II Plus (£4.94 vs. £3.98 for standard) (all Ethicon). 8,13 Most studies suggest little difference in postoperative performance for antibacterial sutures. A single-centre RCT (n = 150) of patients undergoing breast surgery found no variance in SSIs between Vicryl and Monocryl sutures against their antimicrobial equivalent.…”