The effects of laser-assisted fibrinogen bonding on suture material.

To evaluate the effect of laser-assisted fibrinogen bonding on the tensile strength of suture material, 10 types of sutures were exposed to various time intervals of diode laser energy after pretreatment with dye-enhanced fibrinogen solder. After exposure, each suture material was stressed on a tensometer and compared with nonlased suture material. Our results indicate that polytetrafluoroethylene suture material was virtually unaffected at all time intervals of exposure to laser energy. Polyester suture material retained 64.3% of its tensile strength at 60 sec of exposure to laser energy. White silk suture material maintained 80% of its initial tensile strength at 60 sec of exposure. These suture materials may be used safely in conjunction with laser-assisted fibrinogen bonding even if prolonged laser exposure is necessary. The other suture materials tested may be compromised significantly by prolonged exposure to laser energy and must be used with relatively shorter irradiation periods.