A Prospective Clinical Evaluation Of The Longevity Of Resorbable Sutures

Objectives: Chromic catgut has been found to have a longevity of 7-10 days while vicryl was 28 days. There is however no study conducted in Subsahara Africa on the longevity of these sutures. This formed the bases of the study. The study also investigated the effect of chlorhexidine mouth wash on the absorption time and bacterial growth on these sutures. Methods: A prospective randomized clinical study with 100 patients divided into two groups of fifty each (vicryl and chromic catgut groups.The sutures were placed following various minor surgical procedures . Ninety two cases done under local anaesthesia and 8 under general anaesthesia. Post operatively, the patients used only analgesics, and rinse with either chlorhexidine, warm salt or warm water mouth wash for 7 days. On the 7th day, one suture was removed and sent to the laboratory using Stuart's transport medium for aerobic culture.The other sutures were monitored by the patient while they were away until the suture disappeared and confirmation of this done by the investigator. Results: Ninety seven specimens were sent to the laboratory for culture; while 11 specimens (11.4%) yielded no growth, the rest (88.6%) yielded growth of various microorganisms such as staph aureus, strept viridans or E. coli. The type of culture was predominantly by a pure growth (55%) and the load was a moderate load (56%). The median survival values were chromic catgut 11.5 days and vicryl 24.3 days. This difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). However, no appreciable effect of chlorhexidine on absorption time and bacterial growth on these sutures was noted.. Conclusion: The resorbable sutures investigated have a mean longevity which were slightly shorter than the manufacturer stated and bacteria were found to grow on them. Chlorhexidine was found to have no appreciable effect on absorption time and bacteria growth on these sutures.