Common Absorbable Materials

In practice

Learn them as comparisons, not numbers. First, plain gut is natural, short-lived and comparatively reactive. Second, chromic gut is gut treated to last longer and react less than plain gut, though it is stiff. Third, polyglactin is a synthetic absorbable suture, most often braided, which loses its strength as it is absorbed. Fourth, polyglycolic acid is another synthetic braided absorbable, described as keeping its strength somewhat longer than gut. Fifth, polydioxanone is a synthetic monofilament that lasts longer than the braided absorbables, with little tissue reaction, though it is stiff.