Which of the following is NOT a way suture material can be classified?

• A. By material
• B. By absorbability
• C. By filament type
• D. By color

Answer: (D)

Sutures are classified by properties that affect how they behave in tissue: what they’re made from, whether they’re absorbed by the body over time, and whether they are monofilament or multifilament. The material category groups sutures into natural (like gut or silk) and synthetic (like nylon, polypropylene, or polydioxanone). Absorbability distinguishes sutures that are broken down and absorbed by the body from those that remain permanently or for a long time. Filament type refers to the structure of the strand itself—single-strand (monofilament) or braided/multifilament—affecting handling, knot security, and tissue drag. Color, while it can help with identification or branding, does not reflect these performance characteristics and is not used to classify sutures.