PapersFlow Research Brief
Surgical Sutures and Adhesives
Research Guide
What is Surgical Sutures and Adhesives?
Surgical sutures and adhesives refer to materials and techniques used for wound closure in surgery, including suture threads, barbed sutures, tissue adhesives, and skin adhesives, with properties such as biodegradability, tensile strength, and infection prevention capabilities.
This field encompasses 55,481 papers on advancements in surgical suture materials and techniques for wound closure. Key areas include biodegradability, infection prevention, and tensile strength of suture materials, particularly in orthopaedic surgery. Growth rate over the past five years is not available.
Topic Hierarchy
Research Sub-Topics
Biodegradable Surgical Suture Materials
This sub-topic studies synthetic polymers like polydioxanone and copolymers with controlled degradation profiles for soft tissue approximation. Researchers evaluate hydrolysis rates, mechanical strength retention, and inflammatory responses.
Barbed Suture Techniques in Surgery
Focuses on knotless barbed suture designs, tension distribution, and clinical applications in laparoscopic and cosmetic procedures. Studies compare wound closure strength and operative times versus traditional sutures.
Tissue Adhesives for Wound Closure
Investigates cyanoacrylate, fibrin, and synthetic bioadhesives for hemostasis and skin approximation, assessing shear strength and cytotoxicity. Research explores combinations with sutures for enhanced closure.
Surgical Site Infection Prevention with Sutures
This area examines antimicrobial-coated sutures using triclosan or silver nanoparticles to reduce bacterial colonization. Clinical trials evaluate infection rates in contaminated and clean-contaminated surgeries.
Tensile Strength of Sutures in Orthopaedic Surgery
Studies mechanical properties of braided, monofilament, and UHMWPE sutures under cyclic loading for tendon repair and fracture fixation. Researchers correlate material microstructure with knot security and fatigue life.
Why It Matters
Surgical sutures and adhesives directly impact patient outcomes by enabling effective wound closure and reducing surgical site infections (SSIs). Mangram et al. (1999) in "Guideline for Prevention of Surgical Site Infection, 1999" provide CDC recommendations that have shaped SSI prevention protocols worldwide, cited 4568 times. Berríos-Torres et al. (2017) updated these in "Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Guideline for the Prevention of Surgical Site Infection, 2017", emphasizing evidence-based practices integrated into surgical quality programs, with 3288 citations. Classen et al. (1992) demonstrated that antibiotic administration within two hours before surgery reduces wound infection risk, influencing prophylactic timing in clinical practice.
Reading Guide
Where to Start
"Guideline for Prevention of Surgical Site Infection, 1999" by Mangram et al., as it provides foundational CDC recommendations on SSI prevention central to suture and adhesive use in wound closure.
Key Papers Explained
Mangram et al. (1999) in "Guideline for Prevention of Surgical Site Infection, 1999" (4568 citations) establishes core SSI prevention strategies, updated by Berríos-Torres et al. (2017) in "Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Guideline for the Prevention of Surgical Site Infection, 2017" (3288 citations) with new evidence for quality improvement. Horan et al. (1992) in "CDC definitions of nosocomial surgical site infections, 1992: A modification of CDC definitions of surgical wound infections" (2604 citations) provides definitional foundations. Velnar et al. (2009) in "The Wound Healing Process: An Overview of the Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms" (2332 citations) explains underlying biology, while Classen et al. (1992) in "The Timing of Prophylactic Administration of Antibiotics and the Risk of Surgical-Wound Infection" (1754 citations) links antibiotic timing to reduced infection risk.
Paper Timeline
Most-cited paper highlighted in red. Papers ordered chronologically.
Advanced Directions
Field centers on refining biodegradable suture materials and infection-resistant adhesives, as indicated by the 55,481 papers focusing on tensile strength and biodegradability. No recent preprints or news available, so current work builds on high-citation guidelines like Berríos-Torres et al. (2017).
Papers at a Glance
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the CDC recommendations for preventing surgical site infections?
The "Guideline for Prevention of Surgical Site Infection, 1999" by Mangram et al. presents CDC recommendations to prevent SSIs, updating prior guidelines on surgical wound infections. Berríos-Torres et al. (2017) provide updated evidence-based recommendations for SSI prevention in "Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Guideline for the Prevention of Surgical Site Infection, 2017".
How does the timing of antibiotic administration affect surgical wound infection risk?
Classen et al. (1992) in "The Timing of Prophylactic Administration of Antibiotics and the Risk of Surgical-Wound Infection" found that administering antibiotics within two hours before surgery reduces wound infection risk. Variations in timing exist in surgical practice, but precise preoperative dosing lowers SSI incidence.
What role do microorganisms play in wound healing?
Bowler et al. (2001) in "Wound Microbiology and Associated Approaches to Wound Management" note that most dermal wounds are colonized by aerobic and anaerobic microorganisms from mucosal surfaces. The significance of these microbes in wound healing remains debated, influencing management strategies.
What cellular and molecular mechanisms underlie wound healing?
Velnar et al. (2009) in "The Wound Healing Process: An Overview of the Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms" describe wound healing as involving multiple cellular events requiring precise coordination. Efficient wound management is essential for both acute and chronic wounds.
What are examples of biodegradable materials for surgical applications?
Lendlein and Langer (2002) in "Biodegradable, Elastic Shape-Memory Polymers for Potential Biomedical Applications" describe degradable thermoplastic polymers that change shape post-injection for minimally invasive procedures. These materials support advancements in implant technology.
How are surgical site infections defined?
Horan et al. (1992) in "CDC definitions of nosocomial surgical site infections, 1992: A modification of CDC definitions of surgical wound infections" modify prior CDC definitions for nosocomial SSIs. These standardized definitions aid in consistent identification and reporting.
Open Research Questions
- ? How can suture materials be optimized for both biodegradability and sufficient tensile strength in orthopaedic surgery?
- ? What specific improvements in barbed sutures reduce tissue trauma while maintaining closure efficacy?
- ? Which tissue adhesive formulations best balance infection prevention with rapid wound closure?
- ? How do shape-memory polymers integrate with sutures for minimally invasive surgical techniques?
- ? What factors most influence the role of wound microbiology in delayed healing outcomes?
Recent Trends
The field includes 55,481 works with no specified five-year growth rate.
High-citation papers emphasize SSI prevention, with Mangram et al. at 4568 citations and Berríos-Torres et al. (2017) at 3288 citations.
1999No recent preprints or news coverage available in the past six or twelve months.
Research Surgical Sutures and Adhesives with AI
PapersFlow provides specialized AI tools for Medicine researchers. Here are the most relevant for this topic:
Systematic Review
AI-powered evidence synthesis with documented search strategies
AI Literature Review
Automate paper discovery and synthesis across 474M+ papers
Find Disagreement
Discover conflicting findings and counter-evidence
Paper Summarizer
Get structured summaries of any paper in seconds
See how researchers in Health & Medicine use PapersFlow
Field-specific workflows, example queries, and use cases.
Start Researching Surgical Sutures and Adhesives with AI
Search 474M+ papers, run AI-powered literature reviews, and write with integrated citations — all in one workspace.
See how PapersFlow works for Medicine researchers