The Optimal Surgical Needle for Tendon Suture: Cutting Edge or Reverse Cutting Edge?

Background. Achieving  a  durable  connection  between  the  lacerated  tendon  ends  is  difficult.  The  outcome  of  treatment depends on many factors. Several authors consider the properties of the surgical needle used for suturing the tendon to be important. The aim of the study— to compare the strength of the tendon suture applied with the conventional cutting edge and reverse cutting edge surgical needles in the experiment.

Materials and Methods.We used porcine tendons for the experiment. The tendon fragments were divided into 2 groups of 20 tendons each. On all 40 tendons, the same type of “injury” of the tendon was simulated — using a scalpel. In the first group, the interrupted suture of the tendon was applied with a cutting edge surgical needle, in the second group — reverse cutting edge. Laboratory tests of the tendon sutures strength were performed on the improvised stand.

Results.In the first (suture made with a cutting needle edge), diastasis of 2 mm was determined at an average load of 1219.5 g (m = ±76.56, where «m» is the representativeness error). Complete suture failure occurred at an average load of 1770.8 g (m = ±100.02). In this group, the thread rupture was not recorded. In the second group (a suture made with a reverse cutting edge needle), diastasis occurs with an average load of 1754.75 g (m = ±77.32). Complete suture failure occurred at an average load of 2571.25 (at m= ± 103.78). In three cases, the thread ruptured. In the second group (reverse cutting edge needle), the tendon suture strength was statistically significantly higher than in the first group.

 Conclusion. The tendon suture strength depends on the surgical needle properties. In tendons  reconstruction  the  reverse  cutting  edge  needle  use  is  more  preferable  compared  to  the  conventional  cutting  edge needle use.