Which type of suture material is coated to reduce capillarity?

• A. Monofilament
• B. Silk
• C. Multifilament
• D. Braided

Answer: (C)

Capillarity happens when fluids wick along tiny spaces between fibers in a suture. Braided or multifilament sutures have many filaments packed together, creating those capillary channels. Coatings on these multifilament sutures seal the gaps and smooth the surface, dramatically reducing fluid wicking and the potential for bacterial transport along the suture. Monofilament sutures are already smooth and have low capillarity by nature, so they don’t rely on coatings for this purpose as much. Silk is a classic example of a multifilament suture that benefits from coating to decrease capillarity and improve handling. So, the type that is coated to reduce capillarity is the multifilament suture.