Surgical knots are sequences of half-knots (H) or half-hitches (S), defined by their number of throws, by an opposite or similar rotation compared with the previous one, and for half-hitches whether they are sliding (s) or blocking (b). Opposite rotation results in (more secure) symmetric (s) knots, similar rotation in asymmetric (a) knots, and changing the active and passive ends has the same effect as changing the rotation. Loop security is the force to keep tissue together after a first half-knot or sliding half-hitches. With polyfilament sutures, H2, H3, SSs, and SSsSsSs have a loop security of 10, 18, 28, and 48 Newton (N), respectively. With monofilament sutures, they are only 7, 16, 18, and 25 N. Since many knots can reorganize, the definition of knot security as the force at which the knot opens or the suture breaks should be replaced by the clinically more relevant percentage of clinically dangerous and insecure knots. Secure knots with polyfilament sutures require a minimum of four or five throws, but the risk of destabilization is high. With monofilament sutures, only two symmetric+4 asymmetric blocking half-hitches are secure. In conclusion, in gynecology and in open and laparoscopic surgery, half-hitch sequences are recommended because they are mandatory for monofilament sutures, adding flexibility for loop security with less risk of destabilization.
Keywords: gynecology; half-hitch; half-knot; knot rotation; knot security; knot sequences; laparoscopic surgery; loop security.