A Review: Surgical Thread

Abstract

Surgical threads, also known as sutures, are critical tools in modern surgical procedures, enabling wound closure, tissue approximation, and hemostasis. Over the decades, significant advancements have been made in their materials, design, and bio-compatibility. This paper explores the classification, material science, clinical applications, and emerging innovations related to surgical threads. Emphasis is also placed on the comparison between absorbable and non-absorbable sutures, synthetic versus natural materials, and recent trends in antimicrobial and bioactive sutures.Innovations in Modern Surgery Considering availability of a wide variety of suture materials, it’s important to know the differences between various sutures before making an informed decision. Suture material\'s overall performance is influenced by its physical qualities, handling features, and biological factors. The aim of this seminar paper is to give highlights on the biological properties of suture materials. Suturing is not simply about closing a wound; it is a skill that requires finesse and can significantly impact the healing process, reduce complications, and even affect long-term results

Introduction

Effective wound closure is crucial in surgery to prevent infection and scarring. While alternatives like tissue adhesives and staples exist, surgical sutures remain the primary method for securely closing wounds. Sutures are materials used to stitch tissues and can be natural or synthetic, monofilament or braided.

Historically, suturing dates back thousands of years, with evidence from ancient Egypt (1100 BC), India (Sushruta, 500 BC), Mesopotamia, China, Greece (Hippocrates), and Rome (Galen, Celsus). Early sutures used materials like flax, hemp, silk, animal intestines (catgut), and later metals and synthetic fibers.

Sutures vary widely based on tissue needs, with some requiring short-term support (absorbable sutures) and others long-term (nonabsorbable). Absorbable sutures degrade in the body, eliminating removal discomfort, while nonabsorbable ones maintain strength for prolonged healing.

Suture classification depends on size, strength, absorbability, filament type, flexibility, and surface texture. Key properties include tensile strength, absorption rate, diameter, friction, knot security, elasticity, plasticity, memory, handling, tissue reaction, origin, ease of removal, and color.

Current sutures include natural (catgut, silk) and synthetic polymers (polyglycolic acid, nylon, polyester). Innovations such as silver nanoparticle-coated sutures for antimicrobial effect and drug-eluting sutures that release medication locally are emerging to improve healing outcomes.

References

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Copyright

Copyright © 2025 Miss. Pradnya Pramod Jadhav , Rekha Kolape, Nitin Gavai, Gauri Pethe . This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.