Unidirectional barbed suture; equivalent to strength of suture one size smaller‐choose size as you would conventional suture.
Stratafix PDO, PDO Plus
Prolonged absorbable monofilament barbed
Hydrolysis
Negligible
80% at 7 d; 75% at 14 d; 65% at 21 d
N/A
120–180
Stratafix comes in uni‐ and bidirectional strands with symmetrical or spiral barbs. Symmetrical unidirectional barbed sutures are recommended for high tension repairs. PDS plus is antibacterial
Quill PDO
Prolonged absorbable monofilament barbed
Hydrolysis
Negligible
67–80% at 14 d; 50–80% at 28 d
N/A
180
Uni‐ and bidirectional barbed suture; choose one size larger due to strength loss from barbs
Polyamide
Ethilon; Dermalon; Surgilon
Nonabsorbable monofilament
N/A
Minimal
15–20% loss in 365 d; retains 80% indefinitely
Fair
N/A
Slowly loses strength over years by process of hydrolysis
Nurolon
Nonabsorbable multifilament
N/A
Minimal
15–20% loss in 365 d; retains 80% indefinitely
Fair
N/A
Slowly loses strength over years by process of hydrolysis
Quill Nylon
Nonabsorbable monofilament barbed
N/A
Minimal
Similar to conventional nylon
N/A
N/A
Similar to conventional nylon
Polybutester
Novafil
Nonabsorbable monofilament
N/A
Negligible
N/A
Good
N/A
Handles well for monofilament; stretchy
V‐Loc PBT
Nonabsorbable monofilament barbed
N/A
Negligible
N/A
N/A
N/A
Unidirectional barbed suture; permanent soft tissue approximation; equivalent to strength of suture one size smaller – choose size as you would conventional suture
Polypropylene
Prolene; Surgipro; Surgipro II
Nonabsorbable monofilament
N/A
Negligible
N/A
Good
N/A
Does not lose appreciable strength over long periods of time; one of most inert suture besides steel
Quill Polypropylene
Nonabsorbable monofilament barbed
N/A
Negligible
N/A
N/A
N/A
Uni‐ and bidirectional barbed suture; choose one size larger due to strength loss from barbs
Stratafix Polypropylene
Nonabsorbable monofilament barbed
N/A
Negligible
N/A
N/A
N/A
Uni‐ or bidirectional spiral barb configuration. Similar characteristics otherwise with conventional polypropylene
Hexafluoropropylene VDF
Pronova
Nonabsorbable monofilament
N/A
Negligible
N/A
Good to very good
N/A
Good alternative to polypropylene; better handling and strength
Stainless Steel
Surgical Stainless Steel (mono); Steel
Nonabsorbable monofilament
N/A
Negligible
N/A
Excellent
N/A
Difficult to handle; may tend to cut through soft tissues
