Tissue reaction to nonabsorbable suture materials in horse skin

Abstract

The degree of tissue reaction of 4 nonabsorbable suture materials (linen, nylon, polymerized caprolactum and polypropylene) implanted into health skin of 8 horses was clinically and histologically evaluated. Cutaneous oedema and absence or presence of the exudation were clinically evaluated 5 and 10 days following suture material implantation. Biopsies were taken to histologically evaluate tissue reaction at 10 days. The results obtained showed that linen caused more oedema by the 5^th day, whereas the nylon and caprolactum had less oedema on the 10^th day. With respect to the presence or absence of exudation, nylon was the only material which did not show exudation by the 5th day in any of the 8 samples, but on the 10^th day, neither the nylon, caprolactum or polypropylene showed exudation, except one horse that showed exudation for all suture materials. The histological evaluation showed that nylon and caprolactum caused less tissue reaction. In conclusion, linen was found to have a higher degree of tissue reaction in the present study, and nylon although similar to caprolactum and polypropylene in terms of tissue reaction, caused less cases of exudate than the other suture materials used.