To properly close wounds and incisions, surgeons need sutures. Polyamide nylon and the Ethilon polyamide suture are two types of synthetic absorbable sutures that are frequently used. These sutures differ significantly in important ways that affect how well they work in surgical applications, even though they are both composed of polyamide polymers.
Constituency and Organisation:
The fibers that make up ethilon suture are linear aliphatic polyesters called poly(p-dioxanone) (PDS). By hydrolyzing its ester bonds, PDS breaks down gradually. One type of linear aliphatic polyamide that makes up polyamide nylon suture is polycaprolactam. Polycaprolactam’s amide connections hydrolyze more quickly than PDS’s ester bonds. Polycaprolactam has a less orderly structure at the molecular level than PDS does.
Relative Degradation:
Implanted in tissues, Ethicon suture breaks down more slowly than polyamide nylon sutures because of the variations in their chemical composition and structure. About two weeks after implantation, the ethilon suture still has about 80% of its original tensile strength, and it dissolves entirely in six to twelve months. By contrast, a 56-70-day period passes before polyamide nylon suture completely absorbs and loses roughly 50% of its tensile strength. Ethilon’s ability to withstand wound support throughout tissue healing is facilitated by its slower rate of disintegration.
Security of Knots and Tissue Response:
Comparatively speaking to polyamide nylon-suture, animal research indicates that ethilon suture causes a less severe acute inflammatory response and foreign body reaction in tissues. This decreased tissue reactivity can be caused by the delayed breakdown of ethilon. Ethilon also has more knot security and slippage resistance than polyamide nylon-suture knots, which are more prone to slippage because of the amorphous nature of polycaprolactam. This is because of the organized structure of PDS. To keep the wound positioned during the crucial healing stage, improved knot security is necessary.
Taking Care of Features:
Because ethilon and polyamide nylon sutures differ in their polymer structures, ethilon suture has a softer, more malleable texture. Better handling qualities, such as enhanced knotting and tissue passage, are the consequence for Ethilon. Ethilon’s tensile strength is not as high as that of polyamide nylon-suture, though, due to its softer texture. As opposed to polyamide nylon 28–34 kg tensile strength, ethilon reaches 26–30 kg.
Comparison of Costs:
Even though ethilon suture typically costs more upfront than polyamide nylon-suture, when the entire cost of care is taken into account, its benefits frequently make it a more economical option. Because of its slower rate of deterioration, it can avoid the need for multiple procedures to replace or remove broken polyamide nylon sutures before the wound heals completely. Moreover, it lowers the possibility of surgical site issues requiring additional care, such as infection or dehiscence. Overall, ethilon suture can reduce overall healthcare costs while contributing to improved surgical results.
Conclusion:
Degradation rate, tissue reactivity, knot security, and handling qualities are, in brief, the main characteristics that set Ethilon polyamide sutures apart from polyamide nylon sutures. Applications needing prolonged wound support during healing are better served by ethilon due to its delayed disintegration, decreased tissue reactivity, and enhanced knot stability. In cases when a high initial tensile strength is crucial, polyamide nylon-suture might be the better option. When choosing an absorbable suture for a patient or surgical procedure, physicians can make better decisions if they are aware of the variations between these sutures.
