Ligature

Ligature (medicine) is a piece of thread (suture) tied around an anatomical structure, usually a blood vessel or another hollow structure, to shut it off. With blood vessels, this is to prevent bleeding and with hollow structures, to prevent the flow of contents - it is often used for example in surgery or in embalming.

History

The use of ligatures dates back to Hippocrates who described using thread to tie off blood vessels. Galen also mentions ligatures in his texts, but it was not until Ambroise Paré in the 16th century that ligatures became more commonly used. Paré used a ligature of his own invention to tie off the blood vessels during amputation, which greatly reduced the mortality rate of the procedure.

Types of Ligatures

There are several types of ligatures used in medicine, including:

• Absorbable Ligature: This type of ligature is made from materials that are absorbed by the body over time. They are often used in surgeries where the ligature will not need to be removed.

• Non-Absorbable Ligature: These ligatures are made from materials that are not absorbed by the body. They are often used in surgeries where the ligature will need to be removed at a later date.

• Metal Ligature: These ligatures are made from metal and are often used in surgeries where a strong, durable ligature is needed.

• Silk Ligature: Silk ligatures are often used in surgeries where a soft, flexible ligature is needed.

Uses in Medicine

Ligatures are used in a variety of medical procedures, including:

• Surgery: Ligatures are often used in surgery to control bleeding by tying off blood vessels. They can also be used to tie off other hollow structures to prevent the flow of contents.

• Embalming: Ligatures are used in embalming to tie off blood vessels and other structures to prevent the flow of embalming fluid.

• Dentistry: Ligatures are used in dentistry to secure orthodontic wires to brackets on the teeth.

See Also

• Surgery
• Embalming
• Dentistry
• Hippocrates
• Galen
• Ambroise Paré

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