Characteristics of an ideal suture
| Surgeon | Patient | Healthcare provider |
| Easy to handle Secure Predictable tensile strenght Predictable absorption Sterile |
Minimal tissue reaction |
Inexpensive Easy to produce |
Classification of sutures
| Absorption | Construction | Composition |
| Absorbable: vicryl, PDS, catgut Non-absorbable: nylon, silk, prolene, steel |
Monofilament: Nylon, prolene, PDS Multifilament: braided (vicryl), twisted (silk) |
Natural: Silk, catgut, steel Synthetic: Nylon, PDS |
Classification of needles
| Shape | Point | Body |
|
Straight (subcuticular) |
Cutting Tapered Blunt (bowel surgery) |
Cutting Reverse cuttinh (reduces tissue cut out) Round bodied (bowel anastamosis) |