SEARCH · PubMed Health

Results for “SUTURES”

Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 1,009 records · Page 56Linked to original sources

PubMed1999

Successful distraction osteogenesis across a growing cranial suture without an osteotomy.

The application of distraction osteogenesis to the membranous bones of the craniofacial skeleton and its effects on cranial volume and overall skull shape have not been fully studied. This pilot study was designed to compare distraction of a cranial suture in the rabbit model with distraction across an osteotomy and to evaluate the response of the suture both grossly and histologically. Additionally, the need for a period of rigid fixation after distraction was evaluated. Calibrated distraction of either the coronal suture or an osteotomy in the midsection of the parietal bone using an internal distractor (Synthes Maxillofacial, Paoli, Pa.) was studied in juvenile and adult New Zealand White rabbits. Skull growth and distraction were followed by serial cephalograms, and bone biopsies of the distracted sites were obtained after death for histologic evaluation. Craniometric analysis of the skulls was also performed. There was significantly greater mean marker separation in the juvenile suture distraction group (6.6 +/- 0.2 mm; n = 3) than in the control group (2.2 +/- 0.2 mm; p < 0.01). Marker separation was also significantly greater across the parietal osteotomy (6.4 +/- 0.1 mm) than in the sham group (no marker separation). Craniometric data demonstrated the ability of the juvenile skull to distribute the change at the coronal suture throughout the skull to maintain symmetry and minimize disproportion. No distraction was obtained across the adult suture. In the juvenile suture distraction group without a period of stable fixation, a relapse of 17 +/- 6 percent was noted after 1 week, an additional 2.3 +/- 0.5 percent after the second week, and no further change in the third postdistraction week (n = 2; p < 0.01). These results show that in this animal model, distraction osteogenesis can be achieved across a growing cranial suture without an osteotomy or suturectomy and that the degree of distraction and new bone formation is comparable to that across an osteotomy. This suggests that cranial expansion can be obtained in a growing animal without using a more invasive cranial osteotomy. Additionally, the first week after distraction seems to be the most critical time period to maintain stable fixation.

Animals↗

PubMed2001

Eversion with four sutures: an easy, fast, and reliable technique for microvascular anastomosis.

In this study, a microvascular anastomosing technique called "eversion with four sutures" is introduced. For microvascular anastomosis, this technique requires fishmouth incisions at both vessel ends and the completion of four sutures. In 120 Wistar-Albino rats, 120 eversion and 120 conventional anastomoses were done in 240 femoral arteries. Each rat received both treatments. Operating time, bleeding time, number of sutures used, patency rates, and pseudoaneurysm formation were analyzed statistically; healing was evaluated with both light and electron microscopy. When compared with the conventional technique using nine sutures, the eversion with four sutures technique was found to be a faster and easier method of anastomosis and as reliable as the conventional technique. Without compromising patency rates, bleeding time, or rates of pseudoaneurysm formation, anastomosis time and amount of suture material exposed to the lumen were significantly reduced when using this technique. In conclusion, the authors think that eversion with four sutures is a reliable alternative to the conventional suturing technique, especially for emergency cases that require multiple microvascular anastomoses.

Anastomosis, Surgical↗

PubMed2004

Recurrent vitreous hemorrhage after sutured posterior chamber intraocular lenses.

PURPOSE: To describe the clinical course and management of patients with late vitreous hemorrhage after scleral suturing of posterior chamber intraocular lenses (PCIOL). METHODS: The authors reviewed patient demographics, ocular findings, and clinical course of six patients with late (>3 weeks) vitreous hemorrhage after sclera-sutured PCIOL. Intraoperative endoscopy was performed on two patients to better assess the haptic sulcus interaction. RESULTS: Patient age ranged from 39 to 84 years (median 77 years). The interval between scleral suturing of the PCIOL and vitreous hemorrhage ranged from 3 weeks to 68 months (median 5 months). The number of hemorrhages ranged from one to four. The hemorrhage cleared spontaneously in three eyes. Three patients underwent surgery after the hemorrhages including sutured PCIOL removal with concurrent placement of an anterior chamber IOL (ACIOL) (two patients) and resuturing of a PCIOL in a different meridian (one patient). Follow-up ranged from 4 to 36 months, median 19.5 months, starting from the time of the initial postsuturing vitreous hemorrhage. Final vision ranged from 20/20 to hand motions, with four eyes having 20/40 or better vision. Endoscopy revealed a haptic embedded into the pars plicata in one eye but no evidence of neovascularization. CONCLUSION: Recurrent vitreous hemorrhage may occur as a complication of scleral suturing of PCIOL. The etiology of these hemorrhages does not appear to be related to neovascular proliferation at the haptic suture site, but may be secondary to erosion of the haptic into uveal structures. Not all eyes require reoperation after these hemorrhages; however, good visual results may be achieved by replacing the sutured PCIOL with an ACIOL or by suturing the PCIOL in a different meridian.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

Laser suture lysis after trabeculectomy.

PURPOSE: The author attempted to avoid ocular hypotony following a mitomycin-C trabeculectomy by controlling the interval between surgery and laser suture lysis. METHODS: When 10 seconds of digital pressure on the eye following a mitomycin-C trabeculectomy produced a 20% drop of the intraocular pressure, the decision of whether or not to perform laser suture lysis was delayed until the following examination. RESULTS: Twenty-nine consecutive eyes (27 patients) with primary open-angle glaucoma underwent mitomycin-C trabeculectomy in which laser suture lysis was required during the postoperative period to reach the target intraocular pressure. The eyes were classified by the severity of the glaucoma: mild, moderate, and severe. For moderate and severe glaucoma, an unqualified success was defined as an intraocular pressure of 10 +/- 2 mm Hg. A qualified success had an intraocular pressure of 5 to 7 mm Hg or 13 to 15 mm Hg. Failure was defined as an intraocular pressure less than 5 mm Hg or greater than 15 mm Hg. Fifteen eyes were called success, 7 eyes qualified success, and 7 eyes failure. When the final laser suture lysis was carried out within the first two postoperative months, two of the failure eyes sustained hypotony. If the final laser suture lysis had been carried out after the first two postoperative months, there were no eyes with hypotony. There was no statistical difference in the final intraocular pressure between the early laser suture lysis and late laser suture lysis groups. CONCLUSIONS: From this pilot study it would appear that delaying the final laser suture lysis following trabeculectomy (MMC) until after the second postoperative month may reduce the risk of hypotony without adversely affecting the final intraocular pressure.

Aged↗

PubMed2004

Effect of the wicking behavior of multifilament sutures.

The purpose of this study was to compare the wicking propensity of multifilament sutures. Dexon II, Vicryl, and black silk suture (BSS) were dipped in saline or soaked for 48 h, then suspended on a microscope slide. Fluorescein isothiocyanate-dextran (FITC-D) was placed at the suture mid points, and its movement was observed using fluorescence microscopy. The experiment was repeated, replacing the FITC-D with mixture of S. salivarius and saline, incubating the suture specimens in culture medium, and evaluating microbial growth. Dipped sutures showed FITC-D movement in the Dexon II group only. All 48-h soaked sutures demonstrated FITC-D movement with significant (p < 0.005) differences in mean times: BSS 179 +/- 42 s; Vicryl 120 +/- 26 s; and Dexon II 32 +/- 2 s. Dexon II suture demonstrated wicking of S. salivarius, whereas Vicryl and BSS did not (p < 0.05). These results suggest that BSS and Vicryl sutures do not wick as readily as Dexon II does.

Absorption↗

PubMed2003

Metopic synostosis: Defining the temporal sequence of normal suture fusion and differentiating it from synostosis on the basis of computed tomography images.

Only the metopic suture normally fuses during early childhood; all other cranial sutures normally fuse much later in life. Despite this, metopic synostosis is one of the least common forms of craniosynostosis. The temporal sequence of normal physiologic metopic suture fusion remains undefined and controversial. Therefore, diagnosis of metopic synostosis on the basis of computed tomography images alone can prove misleading. The present study sought to determine the normal sequence of metopic suture fusion and characterize both endocranial and ectocranial suture morphology. An analysis of computed tomography scans of 76 trauma patients, ranging in age from 10 days to 18 months, provided normative craniofacial data that could be compared to similar data obtained from the preoperative computed tomography scans of 30 patients who had undergone surgical treatment for metopic synostosis. Metopic suture fusion was complete by 6 to 8 months in all nonsynostotic patients, with initiation of suture fusion evident as early as 3 months of age. Fusion was found to commence at the nasion, proceed superiorly in progressive fashion, and conclude at the anterior fontanelle. Although an endocranial ridge was not commonly seen in synostotic patients, an endocranial metopic notch was virtually diagnostic of premature suture fusion and was seen in 93 percent of synostotic patients. A metopic notch was not seen in any nonsynostotic patient. The morphologic and normative craniofacial data presented permit diagnosis of metopic synostosis based on computed tomography images obtained beyond the normal fusion period.

Cranial Sutures↗

PubMed2005

Use of suture anchors in the reconstruction of soft tissue defects with pedicled muscle flaps.

Suture anchors have been commercially developed to facilitate stable attachment of soft tissues to bone. Although their use is well characterized in orthopedic literature, suture anchors may also be of benefit in the reconstruction of large soft tissue defects by plastic surgeons. Suture anchors (Mitek Surgical Products, Inc., Westwood, MA) were used to fasten pedicled muscle flaps to exposed bone in 7 patients at Duke University undergoing reconstruction of large soft tissue defects. The suture anchor appeared to provide stability for the advancement flap, and there were no suspected postoperative muscle dehiscences or suture breakages. The suture anchor provides an easy, secure method to attach soft tissue to exposed bone, and preliminary experience appears to support their use in certain soft tissue reconstruction procedures by plastic surgeons. Suture anchors should be reserved for cases in which a large muscle flap is needed to cover exposed bone and poses a risk of shearing away from the bone, or adequate periosteum and soft tissue is not available for standard suture techniques.

Humans↗

PubMed1982

Cervical suture in Scotland: strengths and weaknesses in the use of routine clinical summaries.

National routinely collected hospital data for 12 months from June 1976 were used to provide information on patients with cervical suture during pregnancy. The past obstetric history and outcome of the pregnancy after suture was contrasted with the experience of all pregnant women during the same year. The nature of the data did not allow adequate examination of any change in the rate of fetal wastage, before and after suture; or in the secular change in fetal wastage in the pregnant population. After cervical suture the rates of both premature delivery and of perinatal mortality were higher than in the general pregnancy population. The perinatal mortality rate in the cervical suture group showed a greater improvement after suture than was seen to occur between previous and current pregnancies in the whole population, although the excess improvement in pregnancy outcome that occurred after cervical suture could not be definitely ascribed to the suture.

Abortion, Spontaneous↗

PubMed1985

Effect of crown-attached sutures on healing of experimental furcation defects in dogs.

This study evaluates whether suturing of replaced flaps with crown-attached sutures, following reconstructive surgery, counteracts postoperative recession of the gingival margins and facilitates new attachment. Through-and-through furcation defects were created in the mandibular premolars of 5 beagle dogs. Bone was surgically removed from the furcation and around each root to a level 3 to 4 mm below the cemento-enamel junction. Steel wires were placed in the furcations for 6 weeks to enhance plaque formation. After 12 weeks, reconstructive surgery that included acid conditioning of root surfaces was performed. On 1 side of the mandible, the flaps were replaced and secured by bonding the sutures to the teeth with composite resin. On the other side, the replaced flaps were sutured interdentally with single sutures. The results demonstrated that the margins of flaps secured with interdental sutures shifted apically to the fornix of the furcations after 1 week, and histologically all 10 furcations were found to be lined with epithelium. Margins of flaps secured with crown-attached sutures remained an average of 0.5 mm coronally to the fornix, and 13 of the 14 teeth showed new attachment. The results indicate that a suturing technique which counteracts gingival recession, favours the formation of new attachment in this beagle dog model.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

Bioactive suture: a novel immunotherapy for head and neck cancer.

PURPOSE: We have proposed to characterize the mechanism through which bioactive surgical sutures generate a T(H)1 immune response and to define the immune-stimulating half-life of the sutures. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Bioactive sutures of interferon gamma (IFNgamma), interleukin 2 (IL-2), anti-CD3/CD28, anti-CD3/CD28 + IL-2, or anti-CD3/CD28 + IFNgamma sutures were used to stimulate lymphocytes from normal donors and from head and neck cancer patients in vitro over a 24-day period. Cell supernatants were analyzed by ELISA, and T cells were phenotyped to characterize the immune response generated. Intracellular cytokine staining was performed to measure the expansion of flu-specific T cells. Electromobility shift assay and supershift assay were used to measure the intranuclear DNA binding activity of nuclear factor kappaB and its p65 subunit in T cells activated by sutures in the presence and absence of a proteasome inhibitor, MG-132. RESULTS: Anti-CD3/CD28, anti-CD3/CD28 + IL-2, or anti-CD3/CD28 + IFNgamma generated a prolonged T(H)1 immune response for 18 days in vitro. Anti-CD3/CD28 expanded flu-specific T cells. Activated T cells demonstrated enhanced CD40 ligand (CD40L) expression within 72 hours of stimulation, which stimulated other cells to secrete IL-12. Stimulated T cells demonstrated increased intranuclear expression of nuclear factor-kappaB, which was blocked by MG-132, and also reduced CD40L and IL-12 expression. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first report to demonstrate that bioactive surgical sutures can generate a prolonged T(H)1 immune response and expand flu-specific T cells. Bioactive sutures, which are primarily a T-cell stimulant, also stimulated other cells to secrete IL-12 and prolonged the immune response. Sutures may provide a novel in situ stimulating strategy for enhancing the immune system of cancer patients.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Effect of interrupted and continuous suturing on intestinal wound margin strength in rats.

Suture-holding capacity (breaking strength) of small bowel anastomoses made with interrupted or continuous sutures was assessed in two groups of rats. The tightness of the suture line was varied in a standardized manner in both groups. All types of anastomoses had similar strength immediately after surgery. After 72 h, suture-holding capacity had decreased by 50-55% (p < 0.001) in tightly sutured anastomoses and by 10-15% (p > 0.05) if sutures were loose. Changes in strength were similar regardless of whether interrupted or continuous sutures were used. Myeloperoxidase activity, reflecting tissue neutrophil accumulation, and hydroxyproline content were similar in all types of anastomoses after 72 h. Deterioration of early anastomotic strength is probably due to proteinase-mediated tissue degradation. It is speculated that tight sutures encourage proteolytic enzyme activity in the bowel wall by disturbing the local proteinase/proteinase inhibitor balance.

Animals↗

PubMed1982

Elective cervical suture of twin pregnancies diagnosed ultrasonically in the first trimester following induced ovulation.

The efficiency of elective cervical suture in preventing premature delivery thus reducing neonatal mortality was studied in a group of 50 twin pregnancies. All pregnancies occurred after induction of ovulation and twins were diagnosed early by ultrasound. 25 randomly selected patients underwent elective cervical suture. 22 sutured and 23 non-sutured patients were followed until delivery, while 5 patients aborted in the second trimester. The benefit of suturing on the duration of pregnancy and its outcome were assessed. Of the sutured patients, 10 (45.4%) delivered prematurely and the neonatal death rate was 18.2%. In the non-sutured patients, 11 (47.8%) delivered prematurely and the neonatal death rate was 15.2%. This study demonstrates that elective cervical suture was not effective in prolonging gestation or improving fetal outcome in twin pregnancies following induced ovulation.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Suture plication, thermal shrinkage, and sclerosing agents: effects on rat patellar tendon length and biomechanical strength.

BACKGROUND: Shortening or tightening of dense, collagenous tissues is often desirable in the treatment of laxity. PURPOSE: To compare the effect of stress-protection suture, radiofrequency thermal shrinkage combined with stress-protection suture, and a 5% sodium morrhuate sclerosing injection on the length and biomechanical strength of the rat patellar tendon. HYPOTHESIS: Sclerosing agents will increase tendon mechanical strength. Thermal shrinkage combined with stress-protection suture and stress-protection suture only will cause a short-term decrease in tendon strength. All 3 methods will produce equivalent shortening of the tendon. STUDY DESIGN: Controlled laboratory study. METHODS: Forty-six female retired breeder rats were split into 4 groups, each receiving 1 of the 3 aforementioned treatments plus a control group that received a saline injection. After 4 weeks' survival, the length and biomechanical properties of the patellar tendons were measured and compared to the contralateral untreated tendon. RESULTS: Rats treated with stress-protection suture had shorter tendons. Radiofrequency thermal shrinkage combined with stress-protection suture yielded tendons that were both shorter and stronger than were the untreated contralateral tendons. The sodium morrhuate-injected tendons were stronger whereas the saline-treated tendons were weaker than were their respective untreated contralateral tendons. CONCLUSION: Surgical stress-protection suture without radiofrequency shrinkage is most effective at shortening the length of the rat patellar tendon, whereas radiofrequency thermal shrinkage combined with stress-protection suture as well as sodium morrhuate are effective at increasing the strength of rat patellar tendons. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Judicious use of thermal shrinkage in combination with stress protection may improve ligament strength and decrease laxity.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

An in vitro study comparing the use of suture anchors and drill hole fixation for flexor digitorum longus transfer to the navicular.

BACKGROUND: The surgical management of posterior tibial tendon dysfunction often includes transfer of the flexor digitorum longus (FDL) tendon through a tunnel in the navicular. Fixation often is obtained by sewing the tendon back onto itself. The purpose of this study was to compare this standard method of fixation with suture anchor fixation, a technique that may be associated with less surgical morbidity, because it requires the harvesting of less tendon length. METHODS: FDL tendon transfer to the navicular was done in 13 fresh-frozen cadaver specimens. In six feet comprising the standard group, the FDL tendon was transected distal to the master knot of Henry, placed through a drill hole into the navicular, and sutured back onto itself. In seven feet the FDL tendon was transected proximal to the master knot of Henry, placed into a drill hole into the navicular, and fixed with a suture anchor. Load was applied to the proximal FDL muscle and tendon using a materials testing system (MTS) machine and peak load to failure was measured. RESULTS: The mean load to failure was 142.48 N +/- 38.06 N for the standard group and 142.12 N +/- 59.26 N for the suture anchor group (p = 0.305 for the Student-t test and p = 0.945 for the Mann-Whitney test). CONCLUSION: Transfer of the FDL tendon to the navicular using suture anchor fixation requires less tendon length yet provides similar fixation strength as compared to sewing the tendon back onto itself. However, suture anchors are considerably more expensive than sutures. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Suture anchors allow comparable fixation of FDL tendon transfer into a navicular without the need to disrupt the master knot of Henry. This technique may be associated with less morbidity including a shorter incision, decreased risk of medial plantar nerve injury, and decreased loss of lesser toe plantarflexion strength secondary to maintenance of the normal interconnections between the flexor hallucis longus (FHL) and FDL tendons.

Cadaver↗

PubMed1995

Comparative evaluation of bone suture anchor to bone tunnel fixation of tibialis anterior tendon in cadaveric cuboid bone: a biomechanical investigation.

A multiphase biomechanical study was performed using human tibialis anterior tendons and cuboid bones, comparing the fixation of the tendon to the bone using bone anchors and bone tunnels. Twenty-six specimens were tested for ultimate load to failure comparing Mitek Superanchor fixation with no. 1 and no. 5 braided polyethelyne suture to bone tunnel fixation. Mitek Superanchor with no. 5 suture failed at 223 N, compared with Mitek Superanchor with no. 1 suture at 134 N and bone tunnel at 143 N (P = 0.033). Mitek with no. 1 suture versus bone tunnel was not significantly different. The Mitek with no. 5 suture failed at the tendon/suture interface (75%), the Mitek with no. 1 suture failed at the suture/anchor interface (56%), and bone tunnel fixation failed most commonly by fracture of the tunnel (76%). This study is the first biomechanical analysis of the pullout strengths of bone tunnels or suture anchors in the cuboid bone. We have shown that the suture anchor has a pullout strength comparable or superior to a conventional bone tunnel in an in vitro situation. We believe it is a viable alternative to fixation of the tibialis anterior tendon to the cuboid when there is insufficient tendon length or failure of the bone tunnel.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Stapled aortic anastomoses: a minimally invasive, feasible alternative to videoscopic aortic suturing?

Widespread applications of totally laparoscopic aortic reconstructions have been limited by the long cross-clamp time required to suture the aortic anastomosis despite improvement in instrumentation. The authors' hypothesis was that a "one-step anastomosis concept" using an intraluminal stapler would allow shorter cross-clamp time but similar patency and imperviousness as videoscopic suturing techniques. An intraluminal stapler (Endopath-ILS, Ethicon) with a modified anvil was used to perform videoscopic-assisted thoracic aorta-to-iliac artery bypass with a 21 mm by 8 mm polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) graft in 22 sheep through a minimally invasive approach using a 5 cm thoracotomy. The graft-to-iliac artery anastomoses were hand sutured through a flank incision. Twelve sheep were used to establish the technique and 10 subsequent animals constituted the study group. Aortic cross-clamp time, imperviousness, and need for additional sutures were recorded and compared to previously reported data using videoscopic suturing in pigs. Patency was assessed by comparing lower limb arterial pressures. Macroscopic and microscopic examinations of the anastomoses were performed at different time-points within the first 3 months. Videoscopic-assisted stapled anastomoses were also performed on atherosclerotic aortas of 3 human cadavers. Stapled anastomoses between the thoracic aorta and PTFE graft were completed in 8 of 10 animals. Two animals were euthanized after stapler failure and anastomotic bleeding. Sutures to strengthen the anastomosis had to be used in 4 cases. Mean aortic cross-clamp time in 8 successful cases was 4.3 +/-2.9 minutes (range 2-11 minutes) and was significantly shorter than clamp time of videoscopic suturing technique (48.7 +/-9.4 minutes, p < 0.0001). Imperviousness was good or excellent in 4 animals and fair in 4 animals. All anastomoses were patent at the end of the procedure. Examination of the anastomosis of the 2 failed interventions showed medial aortic tear surrounding the anastomosis in 1 case and misfired staples in the other. No graft occlusion was noted during follow-up ranging from 0 to 12 weeks. At the time of harvest, no bleeding was noted after epinephrine and volume infusion to increase mean arterial pressure to 200 mm Hg for 15 minutes. Macroscopic examination of the anastomoses revealed adequate healing with circumferential stapling of the prosthesis to the aortic wall and no stenosis or thrombus except in 1 false aneurysm (1/7, 14%). Surface electron microscopy showed cells coverage of the anastomosis surface. When applied on human cadaver thoracic and abdominal aorta with atherosclerotic changes, clamping times of less than 5 minutes were achieved. However, imperviousness tested with saline was poor. An automatic stapling device allows performance of a graft-to-aorta anastomosis through a minimally invasive approach with shorter clamping time than a videoscopic suturing technique. However, the current technique of aortic stapling is unreliable and further improvements are needed.

Anastomosis, Surgical↗

PubMed2006

Cost savings and quality improvement--single-use suture instruments?

AIM: To determine if the instruments found in single-use suture kits are of satisfactory quality when compared with re-useable instruments and to determine the cost implications of changing to these kits. METHODS: Audit of established practice, followed by trial of new suture kits and their introduction to the department. The new practice was then audited. A cost analysis was conducted. RESULTS: The audit showed numerous problems with the traditional suture kits (instruments were breaking or no longer suitable for suturing wounds). A trial of single-use instruments demonstrated them to be high quality and provided new instruments each time. A repeat audit at one year post-introduction demonstrated no identifiable problem with the new suture kits. The subjective impression of staff was of an improvement compared to the old kits. Costs of sterilising suture instruments were determined and it was found that single use suture kits were cost effective. Assuming an average usage of 150 kits per month, at pound 4.45 each cost for sterilisation, and a total cost of pound 3.05 each for a single-use suture kit plus dressing pack per patient, this yielded a projected cost saving of pound 2520.00 per annum. The actual cost saving was pound 1981.00 that year. The shortfall was due to overestimation of average usage. CONCLUSION: Single use instruments would appear to be safe and cost effective in the emergency department setting.

Cost Savings↗

PubMed2003

A fractal analysis of human cranial sutures.

OBJECTIVES: Many biological structures are products of repeated iteration functions. As such, they demonstrate characteristic, scale-invariant features. Fractal analysis of these features elucidates the mechanism of their formation. The objectives of this project were to determine whether human cranial sutures demonstrate self-similarity and measure their exponents of similarity (fractal dimensions). DESIGN: One hundred three documented human skulls from the Terry Collection of the Smithsonian Institution were used. Their sagittal sutures were digitized and the data converted to bitmap images for analysis using box-counting method of fractal software. RESULTS: The log-log plots of the number of boxes containing the sutural pattern, N(r), and the size of the boxes, r, were all linear, indicating that human sagittal sutures possess scale-invariant features and thus are fractals. The linear portion of these log-log plots has limits because of the finite resolution used for data acquisition. The mean box dimension, D(b), was 1.29289 +/- 0.078457 with a 95% confidence interval of 1.27634 to 1.30944. CONCLUSIONS: Human sagittal sutures are self-similar and have a fractal dimension of 1.29 by the box-counting method. The significance of these findings includes: sutural morphogenesis can be described as a repeated iteration function, and mathematical models can be constructed to produce self-similar curves with such D(b). This elucidates the mechanism of actual pattern formation. Whatever the mechanisms at the cellular and molecular levels, human sagittal suture follows the equation log N(r) = 1.29 log 1/r, where N(r) is the number of square boxes with sides r that are needed to contain the sutural pattern and r equals the length of the sides of the boxes.

Adolescent↗