Suture Ethilon Nylon
Diagnostic Instrument Sets
$210.68
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Ethilon nylon suture, a monofilament non-absorbable suture on a swaged needle. Available in 2/0, 3/0, 4/0 and 5/0, all 45cm, with a 26mm needle on the 2/0 and 19mm on the rest.
What nylon suture is used for
Ethilon is the general-purpose skin closure suture. Monofilament nylon is non-absorbable, minimally reactive in tissue and has a smooth surface that passes cleanly and harbours little, which is why it is the default for percutaneous closure rather than a braided material.
Being non-absorbable, it has to come out. That is a feature for skin, where you want closure held for a defined period and then removed, and a reason not to use it where a buried absorbable suture is called for.
Choosing a gauge
Gauge sizing runs backwards: the more zeros, the finer the thread. Finer sutures leave less mark but hold less tension, so gauge follows the site and the tension on it.
| 2/0 · 45cm · 26mm needle | Thickest here. High-tension sites and retention |
| 3/0 · 45cm · 19mm needle | Trunk, scalp, limbs |
| 4/0 · 45cm · 19mm needle | Hands, limbs, general skin closure |
| 5/0 · 45cm · 19mm needle | Face and other cosmetically sensitive skin |
Selection is a clinical decision based on the wound, the site, the tension and the patient. The guide above is the usual pattern, not a substitute for judgement or local protocol.
Removal timing
Non-absorbable stitches are removed once the wound has enough tensile strength, and that interval varies by site: face is shortest, back and lower limb longest. Leaving skin sutures in too long is what produces the railroad-track marks people associate with stitches. Follow the interval the treating clinician specifies.
For use by trained clinicians. Wound closure requires assessment first: contamination, foreign bodies, tendon or nerve involvement, time since injury, and tetanus status all change whether a wound should be closed at all. Sterile single-use device, do not resterilise.
Specifications
| Material | Nylon, monofilament |
| Absorbable | No, requires removal |
| Length | 45cm |
| Gauges | 2/0, 3/0, 4/0, 5/0 |
| Needle | 26mm on 2/0, 19mm on 3/0, 4/0 and 5/0 |
| Use | Sterile, single use |
Browse the wider medical supplies range, or see first aid supplies for wound care consumables.
Ethilon nylon suture FAQs
Is Ethilon absorbable?
No. Ethilon is a non-absorbable monofilament nylon, so sutures placed with it need to be removed. That suits skin closure, where you want defined support then removal, rather than buried layers.
Which gauge should I use?
Broadly: 5/0 for face and cosmetically sensitive skin, 4/0 for hands and general closure, 3/0 for trunk, scalp and limbs, 2/0 for high-tension sites. It is a clinical decision driven by site and tension, so follow local protocol.
Why do more zeros mean a thinner suture?
It is how the USP convention works: the scale runs downward through 2/0, 3/0, 4/0 and so on, each finer than the last. Finer holds less tension but leaves less mark.
What needle size comes with each gauge?
26mm on the 2/0, and 19mm on the 3/0, 4/0 and 5/0. All are 45cm lengths with the needle swaged to the thread rather than eyed.
How long before sutures come out?
It depends on the site, with the face shortest and the back and lower limb longest. Follow the interval the treating clinician gives, since leaving skin sutures in too long is what causes suture marks.
Is it monofilament or braided?
Monofilament. A single smooth strand passes through tissue with less drag and offers less surface for material to lodge in than a braided suture, which is why it is preferred for percutaneous skin closure.
For use by trained healthcare professionals. Wound assessment must precede closure. This information is a general guide and is not clinical advice.
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