Size

Suture size centers around “0” suture, decreasing in size with “2-0”, “3-0”, etc. The smallest size that provides sufficient tensile strength should be used as larger suture size is associated with tissue injury and potentially increased tissue reactivity.

Degradation

Absorbable

Made from natural mammalian collagen (ex. gut) or synthetic materials, absorbable sutures degrade over time and do not require removal.

Type	Effective Support
Fast Absorbing Gut	5-7 days
Plain Gut	8-9 days
Vicryl Rapide	10 days
Chromic Gut	10-21 days
Vicryl	21 days

Non-Absorbable

Made from natural silk or synthetic materials such as nylon or polypropylene – these require removal.

Strand Composition

Monofilament

Composed of a single strand, these have less resistance when passing through tissue and may be less prone to infection. However, their simple structure may be more prone to damage during the repair or breakage later.

Multifilament

Several strands braided together to create a suture with greater tensile strength though increased resistance passing through tissue and perhaps an increased risk of infection.

Common Suture Classification