Surgical Suture Materials At A Glance !!

Writer : Ishrat Jahan Purobhi.

There are mainly two types of sutures :

(1) Natural /Biological suture :

• Absorbable : Catgut
• Non absorbable : Silk suture

(2) Synthetic suture :

Absorbable : Polyglactin( Vicryl ) – Ethicon

[Polysoft – Incepta ]

Non absorbable : Polypropylene ( Prolene)

Length of the suture material :

• Polyglactin : 90cm, 70cm.
• Polypropylene : 90cm, 70cm, 75cm
• Cat gut : 100cm, 75cm.

Parts of the needle:

• 1) Head / Point
• 2) Body
• 3) Swage / eye

Length of the needle:

• Polyglactin : 36mm
• Polypropylene :30mm, 22 mm
• Cat gut : 25mm, 45mm

Shape of the body of the needle :

• 1. 1÷2 circle
• 2. 3÷8 circle
• 3. 5÷8 circle
• 4.1/2 circle
• 5.J shape
• 6.1/2 curved
• 7. Compound curve
• 8.Straight

Cutting edge of the needle :

• 1. Cutting ( cutting edge convex margin)
• 2. Reverse cutting ( cutting edge concave margin)
• 3. Taper cutting ( Gradual tapering of cutting edge)
• 4. Round bodied

Number of the Filament of the suture :

• 1. Monofillament : polypropylene
• 2. Multifillament : polyglactin ( braided & coated)

Edited By : Nahid Hassan.