OPTION 1

Sutures can be broadly classified depending on their size, thickness, resorbability, number of filaments, making process, etc. into following types:

•           Absorbable: All suture materials that are digested by the body enzymes or are hydrolyzed by the tissue fluids are absorbable. They can be further classified into natural and synthetic.

•            Nonabsorbable: Sutures that cannot be digested by tissue enzymes and are encapsulated or walled off are nonabsorbable. Nonabsorbable suture materials can also be classified into natural, metallic and synthetic. These can be further divided into monofilament and multifilament type in each category.

• Coated or noncoated: Some sutures like polyester sutures are usually coated with a biologically inert non-resorbable compound. This highly effective lubricant provides a thin coating, which dramatically reduces the surface friction of the braid, which aids the thread in passing more easily through the tissues. This coating, however, makes knot security an issue, as the material will easily untie if not secured with a surgeon’s knot.