Ethicon Ethibond Excel Polyester Suture W4846 (USP 5, V-55, 4x75cm, Green)
Pack Sizes Available
Product Description
Technical Specifications
- Material: Polyethylene terephthalate (polyester) braided multifilament — polybutylate coated
- Absorbability: Non-absorbable — indefinite tensile strength retention
- Model Code: W4846
- Suture Specification: USP size 5 (EP 6), green braided, 4 strands x 75cm per box unit
- Needle: V-55 — 55mm, 1/2 circle, taper-cut needle for dense fibrous tissue
- Pack Size: 12 sutures per box
Frequently asked questions
Ethibond Excel's distinguishing feature is its polybutylate coating. Unlike wax-coated or silicone-coated braided sutures, polybutylate bonds mechanically into the braid structure rather than simply coating the surface. This means the coating does not flake, peel, or degrade during clinical use or storage, providing consistent smooth tissue passage and handling properties throughout the suture's working life. The indefinite tensile strength retention profile of polyester also distinguishes Ethibond from materials like silk, which lose strength progressively after implantation.
The V-55 is a large, 55mm length, 1/2 circle taper-cut needle. Taper-cut needles (sometimes called taperpoint-cutting or heavy taper needles) have a taper-point body for tissue penetration with a small cutting tip at the very point — designed for tough, fibrous, or dense tissue that requires more penetration force than a standard round-body taper-point needle. The V-55 is used in major orthopaedic procedures (tendon repair, fascial closure), large abdominal wall closure, and sternal closure, where the tissue resistance requires a needle with both a sharp point and a large enough body to pass the heavy suture through without excessive deformation.
Ethibond Excel is used across multiple surgical specialties: cardiovascular surgery (heart valve annuloplasty ring fixation, great vessel repair where permanent tissue support is required), orthopaedic surgery (tendon and ligament repair, bone-to-soft tissue fixation), abdominal surgery (fascial closure requiring permanent support), neurological surgery (dural repair and fixation), and ophthalmic surgery (extraocular muscle procedures). The common factor is the need for permanent, non-degrading suture support with predictable handling.
No. Ethibond Excel is a non-absorbable suture. Polyethylene terephthalate (polyester) is an inert synthetic polymer that resists degradation by tissue enzymes and retains its tensile strength indefinitely in clinical use. The suture will remain in the body permanently unless deliberately removed. This is appropriate for applications where long-term mechanical support is the clinical objective, but it means that for temporary wound closure applications (skin, sub-cuticular) a non-absorbable suture would require later removal.
USP size 5 Ethibond Excel has a minimum breaking strength (knot pull strength) in the range of approximately 22-27 Newtons or greater per Ethicon's published suture properties data. The exact value should be confirmed in the current Ethibond Excel Instructions for Use or Ethicon product catalogue, as published figures may vary by suture generation and lot. The braided structure provides good knot security, with the square surgeon's knot being the recommended primary knot for Ethibond sutures.
Ethicon Ethilon Non-Absorbable Nylon Suture NW3336
Nylon sutures occupy a specific position in the suture inventory that is not easily replaced: strong, smooth, non-reactive, and available in fine enough diameters to close skin on the face with minimal scarring. They are the suture of choice for skin closure, where the material will be removed after healing, and where the primary requirements are tissue-friendly passage, minimal scarring, and reliable knot security for the duration of healing. Ethicon Ethilon is a monofilament nylon suture — a single continuous filament of long-chain aliphatic polyamide polymer (Nylon 6 and Nylon 6.6) that provides a smooth, low-drag tissue passage without the interstices of a braided structure that could harbour bacteria. The monofilament structure also provides spring-back memory (the suture tends to return to its original straight shape when removed from the packaging), which requires more throws per knot to achieve secure knotting but also means the suture does not wick fluids along its length. The NW3336 is a specific product code identifying: USP size 2-0 (EP 3), black monofilament, with a 45mm 3/8 circle reverse cutting needle, and a 70cm strand length. The reverse cutting needle has a cutting edge on the outer (convex) curve of the needle, which reduces the risk of suture pullout through tissue compared to conventional cutting needles (which cut toward the wound margin). The 45mm needle provides good tissue clearance for general wound closure applications where the tissue thickness requires a larger needle radius. Black dye provides high visual contrast against skin and tissue for easy suture identification during placement and at removal. The 70cm working length provides adequate material for medium-length wound closures without excess strand to manage. For surgical supply distributors, Ethilon is one of the most widely ordered non-absorbable suture products — a standard skin closure option in virtually every surgical tray configuration. Sara Wellness exports Ethicon sutures to distributors internationally.
Ethicon MONOCRYL (Poliglecaprone 25) Suture Y494G
Wound closure after elective facial surgery, delicate subcuticular skin closure, ophthalmic procedures, and any case where the surgeon wants the suture to dissolve cleanly within a few weeks without inflammation — this is where MONOCRYL earns its position as one of the most prescribed synthetic absorbable sutures in the world. Ethicon MONOCRYL is a synthetic absorbable monofilament suture composed of a copolymer of glycolide and epsilon-caprolactone (poliglecaprone 25). The glycolide-caprolactone chemistry was specifically engineered to produce a material with a short absorption timeline and a very low tissue reactivity profile — properties that distinguish it from older absorbable monofilaments. The absorption profile is predictable: MONOCRYL retains approximately 50-60% of its original tensile strength at 7 days and approximately 20-30% at 14 days post-implantation, with complete mass absorption by hydrolysis occurring within 90-120 days. The short strength retention window makes MONOCRYL the ideal choice for skin closure and subcuticular closures where the wound only requires suture support for 7-10 days, after which the healed tissue provides its own strength. For procedures requiring prolonged tissue support, polydioxanone (PDS II) or polyglactin (Vicryl) are more appropriate. The Y494G designation identifies a specific product: size 4-0 (EP 1.5), undyed (not violet), single strand 18" (45cm), P-3 needle (13mm, 3/8 circle, precision reverse cutting). The undyed formulation is preferred for cosmetically sensitive skin closure where violet pigment visibility at the skin surface is undesirable. The P-3 needle is a small, precise needle suited for delicate tissue passage. For surgical suture distributors, MONOCRYL is a high-volume, consistently ordered product across surgical, obstetric, and aesthetic surgery segments. Sara Wellness exports Ethicon sutures internationally.
Ethicon PDS II Polydioxanone Suture NW9262
Abdominal wall closure after major laparotomy demands a suture that is still doing its job weeks after the operation, when the patient is coughing, breathing deeply in physiotherapy, and beginning to resume activity. Mass closure of the abdominal wall requires adequate tensile support for the full healing cycle — typically 4-6 weeks — because the risk of burst abdomen peaks at the point when the abdominal wound is under dynamic functional load but has not yet developed adequate collagen maturity. Ethicon PDS II is polydioxanone — a synthetic absorbable monofilament suture with one of the longest strength retention profiles among absorbable suture materials. PDS II retains approximately 70% of its original tensile strength at 2 weeks post-implantation and approximately 50% at 4 weeks, providing meaningful mechanical support through the entire primary wound healing phase. Complete absorption by hydrolysis occurs between 182 and 238 days — well past the point at which support is needed. The NW9262 product code identifies a large, heavy version for major fascial and abdominal wall closure: USP size 1 (EP 4), violet monofilament, 150cm strand (length sufficient for continuous mass closure of a midline laparotomy), fitted with a 50mm 1/2 circle round body heavy needle. The round body needle has a tapered point and no cutting edge — it pushes through tissue rather than cutting, which preserves tissue integrity and reduces the risk of suture pullout through the widened needle track that a cutting needle creates. The violet colour provides excellent visibility in deep wounds during continuous suture placement and facilitates identification at any subsequent procedure if the suture is still present before absorption is complete. PDS II is also used for fascial repair in hernia surgery when a delayed-absorbable suture is preferred over permanent suture, and in paediatric cardiovascular surgery where tissue growth at the suture site is expected. Sara Wellness exports Ethicon sutures to medical distributors internationally.