What type of suture material is nylon and what are the characteristics?

• A. Non-absorbable synthetic monofilament
• B. Absorbable synthetic monofilament
• C. Non-absorbable synthetic multifilament
• D. Absorbable natural monofilament

Answer: (A)

Nylon is a non-absorbable synthetic monofilament suture. It’s made from a polyamide polymer and is designed to stay in tissue long-term without breaking down. Its main advantages are high tensile strength, very low tissue reaction, and low capillarity, which helps minimize bacterial wicking. Being a monofilament means it’s a single smooth strand that travels through tissue with less drag, though it can be stiffer and hold memory, which can make knot tying a bit more technique-dependent. It is not absorbed by the body, and it is a synthetic material rather than natural. That combination—non-absorbable, synthetic, and monofilament—is what defines nylon sutures.