NICKEL-TITANIUM WIRE AS A FLEXOR TENDON SUTURE MATERIAL: AN EX VIVO STUDY

Nickel-titanium shape memory alloy ( NiTi) is a new suture material that is easy to handle, is strong, and biocompatible. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the material properties and biomechanical behaviour of 150 mu m and 200 mu m NiTi wires in flexor tendon repair. Braided polyester (4-0 Ethibond (R)) was used as control. Fifty fresh-frozen porcine flexor tendons were repaired using the Pennington modification of the Kessler repair or a double Kessler technique. NiTi wires were stiffer and reached higher tensile strength compared to braided polyester suture. Repairs with 200 mu m NiTi wire had a higher yield force, ultimate force and better resistance to gapping than 4-0 braided polyester repairs. Repairs made with 200 mu m NiTi wire achieved higher stiffness and ultimate force than repairs made with 150 mu m NiTi wire.