Abstract:

BACKGROUND: The physical characteristics and functional structure of cartilage tissue suppress its self-rehabilitation after injury. The injured area of cartilage tissue can be sutured according to injury characteristics. Therefore, the choice of suture materials is particularly important. The development and application of degradable suture materials provides a greater protection to the application of suture technology.
OBJECTIVE: To review the physiological characteristics of cartilage tissue and progress and application of surgical suture materials, to introduce the material characteristics and clinical application of degradable suture materials, and to guide the rational selection of suture materials and development of new materials.
METHODS: A computer-based search of CNKI and PubMed databases was performed for relevant articles published from 1993-01 to 2011-01 using the keywords of “cartilage; seam; materials” in Chinese and English. Articles published in recent years or in authorized journals were preferred. Finally, 30 of 193 articles were included in result analysis.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The physiological characteristics of the cartilage restrict the self-repair effect, so resection surgery is often used. However, the postoperative effects are not ideal. Generally considered, cartilage tissues should be retained as far as possible. Meanwhile, it is found that the surrounding area of cartilage tissues has some self-repair ability. Therefore, to suture regular laceration can obtain a good effect. Degradable suture thread superior to non-degradable one cannot lead to secondary injury and provide a great potential and security for suture rehabilitation of cartilage tissue and suture technology development. With the advances in suture technology and development of new materials, cartilage suture repair as tissue engineering method can be used and improved gradually.