SUTURE :

🔷 Natural v/s Synthetic
🔸 Natural : Silk, Catgut, Linen etc.
🔸 Synthetic : Polyglycolic acid (Dexon), Polyglactin (Vicryl), Polypropele (Prolene), Polydiaxone (PDS), Nylon etc.

🔷 Absorbable v/s Non-absorbable
🔸 Absorbable : Catgut, Vicryl, Dexon, PDS etc.
🔸 Non-absorbable : Silk, Linen, Prolene, Nylon etc.

🔷 Monofilament v/s Braided
🔸 Monofilament : Catgut, Prolene, Nylon, PDS etc.
(Contain single strand of fibre.....Adv.: Less chance of bacterial contamination.....Disadv.: More difficult to handle and knot tied may become loose.)
🔸 Braided : Silk, Linen, Vicryl etc.
(Multiple fine strand which are braided together....Adv.: Easier to handle and less chances of loosening of tied knot......Disadv.: Bacteria may lodge in cervices of sutures, and so, they are not suitable for use in presence of infection.)

NEEDLE :

🔷 Straight v/s Curved
Most commonly used during surgery is 'Curved needle', while straight needles are very rarely used.  Moreover, it is also indicated by the curved needle symbol on pack. (This needle has a curvature equal to three eighth circumference of a circle.)

🔷 Round bodied v/s Cutting

🔸 Round bodied : Needle is uniformly round in cross section. It only separates the fibres of tissue through which it is passed (without cutting them). So, it is more suitable for use in soft and delicate tissues like mucosa, muscles, blood vessels etc. Indicated by a 'Circular' symbol on packet.

🔸 Cutting : Needle is triangular in cross section. It cuts the fibres of tissue through which it is passed. So, it is more suitable for use in tough tissue like skin etc. Indicated by a 'triangular' symbol on packet.