Inflammatory reaction as well as the extent of postsurgical adhesion formation are described as varying according to suture material or diameter used. Whether the inflammatory reaction influences the formation of adhesions or is a mere consequence of surgical trauma itself or of type and amount of foreign body material used has never been elucidated entirely. In this study a quantitative analysis of both variables was therefore performed, according to previously described techniques, and correlated within 120 peritoneal defects of a standard side wall-uterine horn adhesion model in the rat. Three different suture characteristics, material (Prolene, Vicryl, Catgut), diameter (USP gauges 3/0, 5/0, 6/0) and knot configuration (2 = 2, S x S x S x S x S) were analysed for this purpose. Both the inflammatory reaction and the adhesion percentage showed significant differences within and in between suture characteristics, but no significant correlation between the two variables was found after statistical analysis. The conclusion is made that, when evaluated after 14 d, the extent of postsurgical adhesion formation is not related to the inflammatory reaction.