Evaluation of coated and uncoated synthetic absorbable sutures in rabbit limbal wounds.

Polymer coatings have been applied to braided synthetic absorbable sutures to decrease tissue drag and improve knot tying characteristics. To examine the possibility that increased "slipperiness" would decrease knot security, coated (Dexon Plus) and uncoated (Dexon S) polyglycolic acid sutures were compared in rabbit limbal wounds. Both suture types had comparable knot security, tissue reaction, and absorption rates, while the coated sutures caused less tissue drag. Clinical trials of coated polyglycolic acid suture for limbal wounds are warranted.