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AMOS R. KOONTZ, M.D.; ROBERT C. KIMBERLY, M.D.

AMA Arch Surg. 1963;86(1):162-163.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text PDF and any section headings.

The need for better nonabsorbable nonmetallic suture material has long been felt. Either silk or cotton would be ideal except that in the presence of infection they frequently cause persistent sinus tracts which are very troublesome. Linen is more offensive in the presence of infection than silk or cotton. Nylon also causes trouble and the knots tend to slip. Tantalum and stainless steel wire do not cause trouble in the presence of infection, but they have the disadvantages that any wire suture has; patients frequently complain of sticking pain, especially if the sutures are placed close to the skin.

Over a period of years we have tested experimentally many types of nonmetallic sutures to determine their behavior in the presence of infection. Marlex, when placed in an infected wound, causes no more delay in healing than if it had not been there.^1,2 Wounds healed perfectly with Marlex present, in . . . [Full Text PDF of this Article]

Author Affiliations
BALTIMORE

From the Department of Surgery of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

Footnotes
Received for publication March 27, 1962.

The Marlex thread used in these experiments was kindly furnished us by the Phillips Petroleum Company. The blue linear polyethylene was furnished by the American Cyanamid Company.

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