A Comparison of Monosyn and Monocryl Sutures in Surgical Wounds

March 17, 2015 updated by: Tufts Medical Center

A Randomized, Prospective Trial Evaluating Surgeon-Preference in Selection of Absorbable Suture Material

To better understand surgeon preference when using synthetic, absorbable, monofilament suture by comparing two similar appearing FDA-approved sutures, Monosyn (Aesculap) and Monocryl (Ethicon).

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Detailed Description

Physicians have used suture to close wounds for at least 4,000 years. Archaeological records from ancient Egypt show that Egyptians used linen and animal sinew to close wounds. In ancient India, physicians used the pincers of beetles or ants to staple wounds shut. They then cut the insects' bodies off, leaving their jaws (staples) in place. Other natural materials used to close wounds include flax, hair, grass, cotton, silk, pig bristles, and animal gut.

The fundamental principles of wound closure have changed little over 4,000 years. Successful closure of wound involves surgical techniques coupled with knowledge of the physical characteristics and handling of the suture and needle. The selection of proper suture material in closing any surgical defect is important in wound healing, minimizing infection, and achieving optimal cosmetic and functional results.

A great deal of progress has been made since Egyptian times with regard to suture materials and manufacturing processes. Today, sutures are available with a wide variety of characteristics, configuration, manipulability, coefficient of friction, solubility, strength, and immunogenic properties. Yet, sutures are currently rather crudely classified based on a numeric scale according to diameter and tensile strength; descending from 10 to 1, and then descending again from 1-0 to 12-0. This study aims to explore the factors that are important to a surgeon when choosing sutures via evaluating surgeon preference for two types of synthetic, absorbable, monofilament sutures: Monosyn and Monocryl. We hope to initiate a more nuanced exploration of how suture characteristics influence surgeon preference, beyond filament type and size, and how makers of suture may better report and represent these factors.

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Actual)

48

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

    • Massachusetts
      • Boston, Massachusetts, United States, 02111
        • Tufts Medical Center

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

14 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Sampling Method

Probability Sample

Study Population

Patients with skin lesions requiring surgical removal were eligible for our study.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Specific eligibility requirements included surgical defects that are linear, without curvature, 3.0 cm in length or greater and extending into the subcutis or fascia.
  • All surgical defects were required to be closed primarily (that is without flaps or grafts) and had equal skin integrity on both halves of their surgical defects.
  • All subjects were capable of providing written informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Unable to provide written informed consent

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Observational Models: Case-Control
  • Time Perspectives: Prospective

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Intervention / Treatment
1
Subjects with skin lesions requiring surgical excision and repair. One half of the each wound received Monocryl suture and the other half received Monosyn suture.
Subjects were randomized to Monosyn vs. Monocryl suture arms. The designated skin lesion was removed surgically. The surgical repair of the defect was performed by dividing the wound in half by a single Prolene suture. The appropriate suture was opened by the Study Coordinator and passed sterilely to the surgical technician. The surgical technician loaded the suture, and passed it in a blinded fashion to the physician who closed the appropriate half of the surgical defect. One half of the wound was closed with one suture and the other half was closed with the other suture. Each patient served as their own control, as both sutures were used in each study patient.
Other Names:
  • Monofilament, absorbable sutures
2
Subjects with skin lesions requiring surgical excision and repair. One half of the each wound received Monocryl suture and the other half received Monosyn suture.
Subjects were randomized to Monosyn vs. Monocryl suture arms. The designated skin lesion was removed surgically. The surgical repair of the defect was performed by dividing the wound in half by a single Prolene suture. The appropriate suture was opened by the Study Coordinator and passed sterilely to the surgical technician. The surgical technician loaded the suture, and passed it in a blinded fashion to the physician who closed the appropriate half of the surgical defect. One half of the wound was closed with one suture and the other half was closed with the other suture. Each patient served as their own control, as both sutures were used in each study patient.
Other Names:
  • Monofilament, absorbable sutures

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Time Frame
subjective surgeon preference for both suture types.
Time Frame: 2 weeks
2 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Time Frame
Objective handling characteristics as major determinants of surgeon preference for the sutures.
Time Frame: 2 weeks
2 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Gary S Rogers, MD, Tufts Medical Center
  • Study Director: Linh K. Lu, MD, PhD, Tufts Medical Center

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

July 1, 2007

Primary Completion (Actual)

March 1, 2008

Study Completion (Actual)

March 1, 2008

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

August 7, 2008

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

August 8, 2008

First Posted (Estimate)

August 11, 2008

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

March 19, 2015

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

March 17, 2015

Last Verified

March 1, 2015

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 8229

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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