Are Vicryl and Biosyn Sutures Absorbable?
Yes, both Vicryl (polyglactin 910) and Biosyn are absorbable sutures.
Vicryl (Polyglactin 910)
Vicryl is a slowly absorbable synthetic suture that is widely used across surgical specialties 1, 2. The material is classified as a braided multifilament suture that retains approximately 50-75% of its original tensile strength after 1 week in situ 2.
Key absorption characteristics:
- In-vivo half-life tensile strength: 2 weeks 3
- Complete absorption typically occurs within 6-10 weeks 4, 5
- The suture material and associated tissue reaction disappear after the 10th week 5
Vicryl comes in different formulations:
- Standard Vicryl: Slowly absorbable, recommended for fascial closure in emergency laparotomy 1
- Vicryl Rapide: Rapidly absorbable variant used for epidermal closure, particularly in facial surgery 6
Biosyn
Biosyn is a monofilament synthetic absorbable suture that demonstrates superior mechanical properties compared to braided absorbable sutures 7.
Key characteristics:
- Significantly stronger than Vicryl over 4 weeks of implantation 7
- Maintains tensile strength longer than braided absorbable sutures
- Lower bacterial infection rates compared to multifilament sutures 7
- Superior handling characteristics with fewer throws needed for knot security 7
Clinical Context
Both sutures fall into the category of slowly absorbable materials, which are preferred over rapidly absorbable sutures for midline laparotomy closure to reduce incisional hernia rates 1. The choice between monofilament (Biosyn) versus multifilament (Vicryl) depends on the specific surgical application, with monofilament sutures offering advantages in infection-prone environments and superior mechanical performance 7.