A suture is a medical device used to hold body tissues together after an injury or surgery. Its application involves using a thread with an attached length and needle. The selection of suture depends on the anatomic site, surgeon's preference, and the required suture characteristics. There is no standardized sizing system or nomenclature available for needles or needle holders. The main thing to consider in needle selection is to minimize trauma. The diameter, length and curvature of the needle influence the surgeon's ability to place a suture.
Sutures should lack the wick effect; means that sutures must not allow fluids to penetrate the body through them from outside, if such thing happens then it can cause infection. Sutures can be classified into two types- absorbable and non-absorbable sutures. Based on their construction they can also be classified either mono-filament or multi-filament. Based on the usage they can also be classified as- cardiovascular sutures, ophthalmic sutures, general sutures, orthopedic sutures etc.
Last date updated on June, 2025