Biomechanical performance of a braided absorbable suture.

Lactomer and Polyglactin 910 sutures are both made of copolymers of lactide and glycolide. Biomechanical performance tests demonstrated superior handling characteristics of the Lactomer sutures. Using sutures comparable in size and knot construction, the Lactomer sutures exhibited knot holding force superior to the Polyglactin 910. Moreover, the low knot rundown forces encountered by the Lactomer sutures facilitated construction of secure knots that failed by breakage rather than by slippage.