Which suture material is a non-absorbable synthetic monofilament commonly used in surgery?

Which suture material is a non-absorbable synthetic monofilament commonly used in surgery?

• A. Linen
• B. Prolene
• C. Cat gut
• D. Silk

Answer: (B)

The concept being tested is identifying suture materials by absorption and filament type. Prolene is a non-absorbable synthetic monofilament made from polypropylene, a stable, inert polymer. Its monofilament structure provides a smooth passage through tissue with minimal drag and low tissue reaction, and it retains tensile strength over time, making it ideal for permanent or long-term support in skin closures and vascular or microsurgical work. Linen is a non-absorbable natural fiber from flax, not synthetic and not guaranteed to be a single-filament strand, so it doesn’t fit the description. Cat gut is absorbable, derived from animal tissue, so it dissolves over time. Silk is a natural protein fiber and is typically multifilament, which increases tissue drag and reactivity compared with a smooth monofilament like Prolene.

The concept being tested is identifying suture materials by absorption and filament type. Prolene is a non-absorbable synthetic monofilament made from polypropylene, a stable, inert polymer. Its monofilament structure provides a smooth passage through tissue with minimal drag and low tissue reaction, and it retains tensile strength over time, making it ideal for permanent or long-term support in skin closures and vascular or microsurgical work.

Linen is a non-absorbable natural fiber from flax, not synthetic and not guaranteed to be a single-filament strand, so it doesn’t fit the description. Cat gut is absorbable, derived from animal tissue, so it dissolves over time. Silk is a natural protein fiber and is typically multifilament, which increases tissue drag and reactivity compared with a smooth monofilament like Prolene.