On rare occasion, the plastic toggle has appeared to break and the suture pull out. Why does this happen?
The plastic toggle is able to withstand normal stresses and pulling from abomasal contractions, but it is purposely designed to break at a pull force of >11-12 kg (24-26 lbs). The breakable plastic suture, as opposed to an unbreakable steel suture, reduces the chance of tearing a hole in the abomasal wall if failure occurs. No surgery is 100% guaranteed to be successful. There are sometimes pre-existing conditions in the cow that may cause excessive swelling and pressure to build, or if the toggle is pulled too tight by the veterinarian, then not enough room is allowed for normal swelling or movement of the abomasum, which may contribute to pressure greater than the capacity of the toggle suture.
