Surgical suture
Surgical sutures are threads, usually with an attached needle, used to close wounds and join tissue. They come in absorbable and non-absorbable materials and are used in every surgical specialty, alongside haemostatic agents and tissue adhesives.
Common types
- Synthetic absorbable: materials such as polyglycolic acid, polyglactin and polydioxanone that the body absorbs over set periods.
- Natural absorbable: catgut, now restricted or not accepted in some markets.
- Non-absorbable monofilament: polypropylene and nylon, for skin closure, vascular and hernia work.
- Braided non-absorbable: silk and polyester, chosen for handling and knot security.
- Barbed sutures and haemostatic products: knotless barbed threads, and haemostatic gauze, powder or bone wax.
What to tell us when you ask for a quotation
- Material, absorbable or non-absorbable, and monofilament or braided
- USP or metric size and thread length
- Needle type (round body, cutting, reverse cutting, taper cut), curvature and length
- Coating and dye (dyed or undyed)
- Sterile packaging, units per box and shelf life
- Quantities per size combination
- Quantity, destination country and the delivery terms you want (for example EXW, FOB or CIF).
Documents to ask for
Buyers typically ask for CE marking under the EU MDR or the destination country's registration, ISO 13485 for the maker, ISO 11135 or ISO 11137 sterilisation validation, and conformity to the suture monographs of the European Pharmacopoeia or the USP.
Certificates and registrations belong to the product and its manufacturer. We check them with you against the rules of your market before any order.
Why do suture quotations list both USP and metric sizes?
USP size (for example 3-0) and metric size describe the same thread diameter in two systems. Stating both avoids confusion when comparing offers from different makers.
Send us the specification and quantity. We compare manufacturers in China and reply with options, lead times and the documents that come with each product. NJMC sources and checks; it does not manufacture.
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