A Monocryl™ suture is made of a synthetic monofilament. It may be transparent or colored purple for easy visibility against body tissue. The composition of the suture material ensures that the thread is very pliable for easy insertion into delicate tissue. It is most often used for soft tissue wound closures, and is not approved for use in cardiovascular procedures, neurosurgeries, or eye operations. These sutures are not used in wounds that may be subject to a lot of movement or tension on the tissue stitched together.
Monocryl™ sutures are made from a polymer material called poliglecaprone 25, a mixture of a glycolide and epilson-caprolactone. The synthetic material is designed to cause minimal damage to soft tissue when the suture is passed through it. This suture is also biodegradable. After the stitches are in place, it causes very little inflammatory reaction within the tissue, which may result in a faster healing period.
The absorbable suture begins to degrade within two weeks after being used to close a wound. It does not completely absorb until after two to three months have passed, providing the optimum healing time for the damaged tissue. An advantage of the absorbable suture for wound closure is that an additional appointment to remove the stitches can be avoided. Rarely, there may be small lumps at the edge of a healing wound, and if these are noticed a visit to the physician may be necessary to evaluate the stitches.
A Monocryl™ suture is also available in an antibacterial form. These destroy the bacteria that may come into contact with the stitches and inhibit the growth of colonies of naturally occurring bacterium within the wound. This may promote a faster healing time. The antibacterial used in the suture material is resistant to both forms of staphylococcus and klebsiella pneumonia. Escherichia coli, methicillin-resistant S aureus (MRSA), and methicillin-resistant S epidermidis (MRSE) are also inhibited by the antibacterial Monocryl™ suture.
These sutures may be used in a continuous suture pattern or locking-loop sutures, and the organ or soft tissue the stitching is being placed in determines the type of suture pattern used to close the wound. Visible facial wounds are often closed with a continuous suture pattern to disguise the stitching. A locking-loop suture pattern may be used for repairing intestinal perforations due to the peristaltic movement of the organ. Tendons may be repaired with a double-locking-loop Monocryl™ suture to prevent infection and add tensile strength to the stitches.