Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37285435›Full record

ArticleScience advances2023

The strength of surgical knots involves a critical interplay between friction and elastoplasticity.

Paul Johanns, Changyeob Baek, Paul Grandgeorge, Samia Guerid, Shawn A Chester, Pedro M Reis

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Science advances, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Paul JohannsFlexible Structures Laboratory, Institute of Mechanical Engineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland.ORCID 0000-0002-3093-6753
Changyeob BaekDepartment of Applied Mathematics, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA.
Paul GrandgeorgeFlexible Structures Laboratory, Institute of Mechanical Engineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland.ORCID 0000-0002-1140-7557
Samia GueridIndependent Plastic Surgeon, Lausanne, Switzerland.
Shawn A ChesterDepartment of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ, USA.ORCID 0000-0003-1146-1745
Pedro M ReisFlexible Structures Laboratory, Institute of Mechanical Engineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland.ORCID 0000-0003-3984-828X

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Knots are the weakest link in surgical sutures, serving as mechanical ligatures between filaments. Exceeding their safe operational limits can cause fatal complications. The empirical nature of present guidelines calls for a predictive understanding of the mechanisms underlying knot strength. We identify the primary ingredients dictating the mechanics of surgical sliding knots, highlighting the previously overlooked but critical effect of plasticity and its interplay with friction. The characterization of surgeon-tied knots reveals the relevant ranges of tightness and geometric features. Using model experiments coupled with finite element simulations, we uncover a robust master curve for the target knot strength versus the tying pre-tension, number of throws, and frictional properties. These findings could find applications in the training of surgeons and robotic-assisted surgical devices.

Indexed as

SuturesSuture TechniquesFrictionMaterials TestingTensile Strength

Identifiers

PMID37285435
PMCPMC10246910

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.