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)
Frequently asked questions
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 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.