Ethicon Ethilon Non-Absorbable Nylon Suture NW3336
Pack Sizes Available
Product Description
Technical Specifications
- Material: Nylon monofilament — long-chain aliphatic polyamide (Nylon 6 and 6.6)
- Absorbability: Non-absorbable — gradual in vivo hydrolysis over years, not relevant for temporary skin closure
- Model Code: NW3336
- Suture Specification: USP 2-0 (EP 3), black monofilament, 70cm strand
- Needle: 45mm, 3/8 circle, reverse cutting
- Pack Size: 12 or 36 sutures per box (confirm at order)
Ethilon monofilament nylon is preferred for skin closure because of its smooth single-filament structure that passes through tissue with low friction, minimising trauma along the suture path. The non-absorbable nature allows the surgeon to remove the suture after the skin has healed, leaving no permanent foreign body in the superficial tissue. Nylon's low reactivity minimises the tissue reaction around the suture track, which directly influences the width and visibility of the resulting scar. For cosmetically sensitive areas, this combination of low tissue reactivity and retrievability makes nylon the standard choice.
A reverse cutting needle has its third cutting edge on the outer (convex) curvature of the needle, rather than on the inner concave curve as in a conventional cutting needle. When suture is pulled through tissue, the force vector is away from the wound margin — toward the outer edge of the needle path. A conventional cutting needle's inner cutting edge means the cut faces toward the wound, and suture tension can cause the suture to cut through toward the wound margin. The reverse cutting needle's outer cutting edge means tension pulls the suture against uncut tissue, significantly reducing suture pullout.
Nylon is classified as non-absorbable, but it is not truly inert in vivo. Progressive hydrolysis of the nylon polymer in tissue causes gradual loss of tensile strength over years — approximately 15-20% per year under typical implantation conditions. For skin closure sutures that are removed within 5-14 days, this is clinically irrelevant. For deeply placed nylon sutures in subcuticular or fascial applications, the progressive strength loss should be considered, and a truly permanent suture (polyester or polypropylene) may be preferred for applications requiring indefinite tensile support.
Suture removal timing depends on the wound location and tension: face and scalp wounds: 3-5 days; eyelid wounds: 3-5 days; neck wounds: 5-7 days; trunk and abdominal skin closure: 7-10 days; extremity wounds: 7-10 days; joints or high-tension areas: 10-14 days. Removing sutures too early risks wound dehiscence; leaving them too long increases the risk of suture track scarring and epithelialisation of the suture path. These are guidelines — clinical judgment regarding wound healing quality should always inform the timing.
Nylon monofilament has significant elastic memory that tends to cause knot slippage with fewer throws. A minimum of 3-4 square or instrument throws are required to achieve a reliable, slip-resistant knot in nylon, with some surgeons using 5 throws in smaller sizes. The first throw should be a surgeon's throw (double first pass) to prevent the loop from tightening before the second throw is placed. When tying nylon, the knot should be flattened gently with each throw rather than pulled tight with force, to avoid fracturing the monofilament at the knot.
Ethicon Ethibond Excel Polyester Suture W4846 (USP 5, V-55, 4x75cm, Green)
Cardiovascular surgery, orthopaedic repairs, fascial closure in abdominal procedures, ophthalmology, neurological tissue fixation — these are not situations that tolerate a suture that degrades, stretches, or loses its tensile strength after placement. The tissues being approximated need to remain approximated indefinitely. The suture is expected to maintain its mechanical properties for the life of the patient. Ethicon Ethibond Excel is a non-absorbable braided polyester suture — polyethylene terephthalate (PET) monofilament fibres woven into a braided multifilament structure and coated with polybutylate, a unique coating compound developed by Ethicon. Polybutylate is a semi-crystalline co-polymer that bonds to the polyester braid mechanically rather than as a surface film, providing a coating that does not flake off or degrade over time. The coating gives Ethibond Excel its characteristic smooth tissue passage and handling properties without the coating failure that can occur with wax or silicone coatings on other braided sutures. The W4846 designation identifies a specific needle-strand combination: USP size 5 (EP gauge 6) green braided suture, four 75cm strands per package, fitted with the V-55 needle — a large, heavy-gauge 1/2 circle taper-cut needle designed for tough, fibrous tissue that requires more cutting force than a standard taper-point would provide. The V-55 needle is commonly used in large orthopaedic applications, fascial repair, and tendon surgery. The green dyeing provides high visual contrast against tissue, which is a clinical priority in procedures where suture retrieval and knot identification must be rapid and unambiguous. The braided structure provides reliable knot security — critical in permanent sutures where post-operative knot slippage would compromise the repair. For surgical supply distributors, Ethibond Excel is a standard catalogue item in suture product ranges, particularly those serving orthopaedic, cardiovascular, and general surgery units. Sara Wellness exports Ethicon surgical sutures to medical distributors internationally.
Ethicon PDS Plus Antibacterial Polydioxanone Suture PDP9262T
Surgical site infection is a problem that clinical practice has been trying to solve since surgery began. Despite every advance in antibiotic prophylaxis, operating theatre ventilation, skin preparation, and surgical technique, SSI rates in major abdominal surgery remain a consistent source of patient morbidity, prolonged hospitalisation, and healthcare cost. The triclosan-coated suture was developed specifically to add an additional layer of protection at the one place that antibiotics and environmental controls cannot reach: the surface of the implanted suture itself. Ethicon PDS Plus Antibacterial Suture is polydioxanone monofilament — the same material, same absorption profile, same tensile properties, and same handling characteristics as PDS II — with the addition of triclosan (Irgacare MP), a broad-spectrum bacteriostatic agent coated onto each strand. Triclosan inhibits fatty acid synthesis in bacteria, disrupting their ability to form and maintain cell membranes. When bacteria attempt to colonise the suture surface, they encounter an antibacterial concentration that prevents biofilm establishment. In vitro data from Ethicon and peer-reviewed publications demonstrate that PDS Plus maintains antibacterial activity against S. aureus, MRSA, S. epidermidis, MRSE, E. coli, and K. pneumoniae for 17-23 days post-implantation. Clinical trial data (meta-analysis of 31 RCTs with over 14,000 patients) shows approximately 30% reduction in SSI risk with triclosan-coated sutures compared to non-coated equivalents. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE, UK) specifically recommends triclosan-coated sutures as part of the SSI prevention care bundle. PDP9262T is a loop suture configuration: two needles attached to the ends of a 150cm strand looped through a single anchor — a format used for certain abdominal wall closure techniques where the loop is threaded through the wound and both needles close the fascia from opposite ends simultaneously. The CTX needle is a large, heavy 1/2 circle taper-point needle suitable for major abdominal fascia. Sara Wellness exports Ethicon antibacterial sutures to surgical distributors 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.