The effect of metal clips on the tensile properties of healing skin wounds

Abstract

Abstract The effects of nylon sutures and metal skin clips on the tensile properties of healing skin wounds have been studied in the pig. Wounds closed with clips have significantly poorer mechanical properties at 5,7 and 14 days after wounding than similar wounds in the same animal closed with interrupted nylon sutures. This difference increased progressively with the period of retention of the clips. It is also shown that in equivalent groups of 14-day wounds, those in which clips were retained after the seventh day had a lower tensile strength, poorer ability to absorb energy and a lower elastic modulus than similar wounds where clips had been removed early. No such adverse effect was noted with nylon sutures.