Learning Objective

• Absorbable and nonabsorbable sutures and materials used in the preparation

Absorbable sutures are those that are broken down in the body after a period of time. The time of degradation of the material in the body varies from days to weeks. They are used for internal body tissues where the suture eventually dissolves after performing the function. The advantage in such type of sutures is that there is no foreign material left in the body and there is no need for getting the suture removed. Absorbable sutures were originally made from the intestines of sheep or kangaroo tendon. However, absorbable sutures used now are mostly made up of synthetic polymer fibers. These have numerous advantages over the gut sutures, namely ease of handling, low cost, low tissue reactions, nontoxicity and uniformity in manufacturing.

Nonabsorbable sutures are those that are not metabolized in the body. Hence, they are mainly used on skin wound closure or in some internal tissues where the absorbable sutures are inadequate, such as the sternal closure after cardiac or orthopedic surgery. When used on external skin, they are usually removed after a few days. The primary nonabsorbable ligature and suture materials are silk, linen, silkworm gut, horse hair and wire (silver, gold and iron). Other nonabsorbable sutures are made of artificial fibers such as polypropylene, polyester or nylon. At the place of their use, a condition of encystation is produced as a result of the presence of a foreign body in the tissue, resulting in irritation and forming of pockets and sinuses.