Author(s)

Anthony Nigliazzo, Rodrigo Arrangoiz, Richard Hutchison, Marc Basson, Andrew Saxe

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Background: Forces applied to knots used for interrupted vs. continuous closures are very different. We studied the knot strength and knot security of three knots when simulating a continuous wound closure: the square, the sliding, and a hybrid constructed using a surgeon’s square knot followed by a sliding knot. Mate-rials and Methods: Knot holding capacity (KHC) of single-strand 1-0 polypropylene was determined by slow distraction on a horizontal testing sled of the strand that would be used to complete a continuous (“running”) closure following placement of an anchoring knot with six throws. Distraction continued until failure of the knot defined as breakage or slippage of the knot. Results: The mean and standard deviation of KHC meas-ured in pounds was determined (n = 30 for each knot): standard square 8.94 +/– 1.04; sliding 10.72 +/– 1.35; and hybrid 10.95 +/– 1.10. For each knot the relative knot security [(KHC of the knot/Tensile strength of untied strand) x 100] was calculated: standard square 69.5%; sliding 83.4%; hybrid 85.2%. Significant dif-ferences (p < 0.0001) in KHC exist between square and sliding knots (favoring sliding knots) and between square and hybrid knots (favoring hybrid knots). Hybrid and sliding knots were not statistically different. Conclusion: Sliding knots and hybrid knots are superior to square knots as anchoring knots for single-strand continuous wound closure.

Knot Strength, Continuous Suture, Square Knot, Slip Knot

A. Nigliazzo, R. Arrangoiz, R. Hutchison, M. Basson and A. Saxe, "Surgical Knot Strength in Continuous Wound Closures," Surgical Science, Vol. 2 No. 4, 2011, pp. 195-197. doi: 10.4236/ss.2011.24043.