Coatings are applied to reduce capillarity in which sutures?

• A. Multifilament
• B. Monofilament
• C. Naturally coated
• D. Uncoated

Answer: (A)

Capillarity is the tendency of liquid to wick along the surface of a suture. This effect is much more pronounced in multifilament sutures because their braided or twisted fibers create tiny capillary channels between filaments. A coating fills these interstices and smooths the surface, reducing the pathways that wicking can use to move fluid (and potential contaminants) along the suture. Monofilament sutures, being a single strand, have far fewer capillary pathways, so coatings to reduce capillarity aren’t necessary for them. Naturally coated or uncoated options don’t address the main issue as effectively as applying a coating to multifilament sutures, which is why coatings are used specifically to reduce capillarity in multifilament sutures.