ArticleBMC ophthalmology2026
Flanged scleral fixation: thermoplastic properties of suture materials and implications for flange geometry.
Article in BMC ophthalmology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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.
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.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundFlanged scleral fixation techniques are increasingly used in the management of intraocular lens dislocation and aphakia. However, complications such as conjunctival erosion and scleral migration remain a concern. Flange geometry may play a critical role in anchoring stability. This study investigates the thermoplastic properties of various suture materials to identify optimal conditions for flange formation.
methodsA disposable electrocautery device with a power supply and tip temperature of 392 °C was used for standardised application. Seven suture materials were used: polypropylene (6/0), polyamide 6 (6/0), polyamide 6.6 (6/0), vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene (PVDF) (6/0), polyester (5/0), and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) (5/0 and 6/0). All sutures were heated 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 mm from the distal end and examined in 4 repeat measurements. The prepared flanges were photographed and measured using a digital microscope. The flange dimensions and geometry were assessed. Ratios of flange width to flange length and flange width to suture diameter were calculated.
resultsAll suture materials except polyamide 6.6 (6/0) and PTFE (5/0) formed a flange shape due to the increase in temperature as demonstrated by repeated measurements with a high degree of reproducibility. While polypropylene and PVDF took on a mushroom/rhomboid shape, the flange shape of polyamide 6 and polyester was spherical. The flange geometry of PTFE was funnel-shaped with sharp edges. With increasing duration of heat exposure, the flange length of polypropylene and PVDF increased more significantly than the flange width.
conclusionPolypropylene and PVDF demonstrate favorable thermoplastic properties for flanged scleral fixation, enabling reproducible flange formation with short heating times. A heating length of approximately 1 mm appears optimal for controlled flange geometry. Further biomechanical and in vivo studies are required to validate clinical performance.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
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.