Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Suture sinus formation following closure of ventral midline incisions with polypropylene in three horses.
- Journal:
- Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
- Year:
- 1995
- Authors:
- Trostle, S S & Hendrickson, D A
- Affiliation:
- Department of Surgical Sciences · United States
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
In three horses, small channels called suture sinuses developed after their bellies were stitched up with a type of plastic thread called polypropylene. These sinuses healed once the thread was taken out. The issue seems to be linked more to how the thread interacts with the body than to any chemical properties of the material itself. To reduce the chances of these sinuses forming when using polypropylene for surgery, it's important to use less tissue in the stitches, keep the stitches loose, and make smaller knots. Overall, removing the suture material successfully resolved the problem.
Abstract
Suture sinuses formed in 3 horses following closure of ventral midline incisions with size-2 polypropylene. Suture sinuses healed after the suture material was removed. Suture sinus formation following closure with polypropylene may be related to the suture material's mechanical, rather than its chemical, properties. If polypropylene is used to close the linea alba in horses, the amount of tissue incorporated in the suture loops, suture tension, and knot volume should be minimized to decrease the risk of suture sinus formation.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7657574/