New suture material for squint surgery.

All operations were performed under general anaesthesia using a limbal approach to the insertions of the muscles, similar to that recently described by Fells (I97 i). The 6/o Ethiflex suture was then used in the standard manner employing a "whip" stitch on the edge of each muscle. At the moment the suture is presented with a io-mm. taper-point needle. This is not ideal, but no problems, apart from the slightly increased pressure necessary to push them through the sclera, have been observed. The conjunctiva was closed with 6/o plain collagen. Since May, 1971, this technique has been employed in 65 cases; six of these had undergone previous squint surgery and small granulomata were found at the site of the sutures (Figure). Two cases in which 6/o Ethiflex were used have been re-operated on after a period of 3 months and in neither was there evidence of granulomatous reaction. No clinical granuloma has been observed in any of the 65 cases, nor was there any other complication related to the suture material, or any limitation of abduction.