Nylon

Synthetic sutures consist of nylon fibers made from nonabsorbable (i.e., nonbiodegradable) aliphatic (e.g., polyamide 6) polymers. These sutures are typically available in sterile coated thread sections (e.g., 18, 30 inches/45, 76 cm long) attached to a single-use needle as an integral device and they are frequently colored for easy identification during surgery. Nylon sutures keep their tensile strength for very long periods of time and they are water resistant. Nylon is not absorbed, but hydrolysis may result in the gradual loss of tensile strength over time. The intended use of nylon nonabsorbable synthetic sutures includes general soft-tissue approximation and suturing of internal organs and tissues.