Determination of the Breaking Force of Surgical Threads with the Use of a Testing Machine

The aim of the study was to compare the value of the suture breaking force in the baseline state and after taking into account the exposure time to Ringer’s solution (7 and 14 d). Taking into consideration also the sewing process, the value of the force causing the thread to break away from the needle was determined. Absorbable threads (PGLA LACTIC USP 2/0 and 3/0; PGA USP 2/0 and 3/0) and non-absorbable threads (PA USP 2/0 and 3/0) were selected for the study and divided into groups according to their diameter and time of exposure to Ringer’s solution. In order to determine the value of the forces, a static tensile test was performed on the MTS Criterion Model 45 testing machine with a tensile speed of 30 cm/min. Additionally, in order to assess the values of the forces causing the breaking of the sutures made with the threads selected for testing, two samples were prepared, which differed in the number of straight knotted stitches with which the animal skin was sewn. In the first case, 9 sutures were used, in the second—11. On the basis of the obtained results, a higher value of the breaking force in the threads size USP 2/0 was found, both absorbable and non-absorbable. A lower value of the breaking force in relation to the initial state was also observed for the threads exposed to Ringer’s solution. In the case of sewn animal skin, it can be concluded that the highest value of the force was obtained for tearing 11 straight knotted sutures made with USP 2/0 nylon threads (F = 26.1 N). On the other hand, the smallest force (F = 17 N) was obtained to tear 9 straight knotted sutures made with the same threads, size USP 3/0.