Barber FA, Spenciner DB, Zani BG, Melidone R. “Suture-Based Debris Behavior in the Draining Lymph Nodes of a Porcine Knee: A Study of Silicone, Polyethylene and Carbon.”

Purpose/Methods: To determine whether debris from a silicone core suture has an observable intra-articular or extra-articular impact or can be shown to migrate into the lymphatic system. Using a porcine stifle joint model, 2 study groups were created. One group used silicone-suture particles with an outer sheath of ultrahigh molecular-weight polyethylene, an inner polyester sheath and a medical-grade silicone/sodium chloride-filled core. The second group used a mixture of 3 vitreous carbon particles sizes.

Conclusions: Carbon particles in the porcine knee migrated into the lymph nodes (iliac 100%; inguinal 50%, popliteal 0); gross discoloration was observed in 8 of 12 specimens. Silicone-suture particles could not be found in the lymph nodes, and no macroscopic joint damage was observed.

Clinical relevance: The clinical use of a suture containing a silicone/salt central core is common, and the porcine lymphatic model suggests that this type of suture material does not result in clinically significant silicone particulates.

Arthrosc Sports Med Rehabil. 2019 Nov 27;1(2):e131-e136. doi: 10.1016/j.asmr.2019.09.006.