The big determining factor regarding which suture material to use will be dependent upon if you plan to leave the sutures in the skin and not remove them, or if want the patient to return to their primary care provider for suture removal. 

Dissolvable Sutures

The material in which the suture is comprised matters regarding if the suture will dissolve or not.  Some dissolvable sutures include:

  • Vicryl Rapide
    • 2 weeks
  • Undyed Monocryl
    • 3 weeks
  • Dyed Monocryl
    • 4 weeks
  • Coated Vicryl
    • 5 weeks
  • PDS
    • 9 weeks
  • Panacryl
    • 70 weeks

Rate Suture Dissolves

The big determining factor regarding which suture material to use will be dependent upon if you plan to leave the sutures in the skin and not remove them, or if want the patient to return to their primary care provider for suture removal. 

  • Febrile
  • has an infection
  • protein deficiency
  • if the suture is under high tension

The suture may dissolve faster.

Non-absorbable Sutures

Additionally, there are non-absorbable sutures as well, these lie on the skin and must be removed.  If they are within the body, “buried”, they will be retained in the tissue.  Non-absorbable suture materials include:

  • Nylon
  • Polypropylene
  • Silk

Simple Interrupted

Simple interrupted sutures are commonly used for general tissue approximation and can be used for most wound repair.  To see a simple interrupted suture completion

Running Sutures

Next for running sutures.  When looking at the data regarding running sutures, these types of sutures have less dehiscence than simple interrupted sutures in wound repair.  Simple running sutures are fast and effective for long lacerations.  However, if one suture is cut by mistake or removed, then all sutures are lost, therefore, caution and attention must be used when completing this suture type.

Mattress Sutures

Next horizontal and vertical mattress patterns.  Mattress sutures are used for everting wound edges.  Additionally, half-buried mattress sutures are beneficial for everting triangular edges in flap repair.

Running Subcuticular Sutures

Lastly running subcuticular sutures are fast and effected in accurate skin edge apposition.  This type of suture pattern is best used for closing clean wounds especially for surgical wound in the procedure labs or operating room.

Am Fam Physician. 2017;95(10):628-636. Copyright © 2017 American Academy of Family Physicians.

Am Fam Physician. 2017;95(10):628-636. Copyright © 2017 American Academy of Family Physicians.