Medical Grade Honey (MGH) is used as a protective measure against surgical site infections but the effect on suture material has not been examined. In this study the influence of MGH on the tensile properties of different suture materials was investigated. Ten strands of polydioxanone USP2 (PD2), polyglactin 910 USP2 (PG2) and poliglecaprone USP2-0 (PC2-0) were incubated 1, 7, 14, 21 and 28 days in MGH, Phosphate Buffered Saline (PBS), Equine Plasma (EP) and half MGH and Equine Plasma. Mechanical testing was performed recording maximum load at failure, strain at failure and Young’s modulus. PD2 in MGH showed no significant decrease in breaking strength on day 1 (p = 0,148) and 28 (p = 0,604) while the strength of PG2 in MGH remained the same day 1 (p = 1,000) and 7 (p = 0,841). PG2 in MGH remained stronger than in the other media until day 28. PC2-0 in MGH had a higher breaking strength than in EP (p = 0,000) and PBS (p = 0,002), on day 7. On day 21, PC2-0 in MGH, had a higher breaking strength than in EP (p = 0,000) and PBS (p = 0,000). MGH did not negatively affect the breaking strength of suture materials suggesting that MGH can be applied as a preventive antiseptic measure without risking premature degradation. In vivo studies are necessary to define the clinical effect of MGH on suture materials. MGH can be applied in contact with commonly used sutures in equine surgery, without risking premature failure.
.jpg "Kira Madsen, DVM photo")