Sutures and Wound Repair/ General Surgery (ABSA) Practice Test

Which suture material is NOT absorbed but remains as a living tissue in the body?

1. Silk

2. Fascia lata

3. Vicryl

4. Chromic gut

The correct answer is: Fascia lata

The choice of fascia lata as the correct answer is based on its properties and role as biological tissue. Fascia lata is a type of connective tissue derived from the muscle fascia, and when used in surgical procedures, it typically is not absorbed by the body like synthetic or absorbable sutures. Instead, fascia lata integrates into the body's existing tissue structures, providing support and potentially contributing to the healing process. In contrast, silk, Vicryl, and chromic gut are all materials that are either non-absorbable or absorbable sutures. Silk is a natural fiber, but it is not absorbed and remains in the body intact, though it doesn't function as living tissue. Vicryl is a synthetic absorbable suture material which undergoes hydrolysis and is eventually absorbed by the body. Chromic gut is also absorbable, as it is treated cow intestinal tissue that degrades over time in the body. Thus, while silk remains, it does not have the biological integration characteristic of fascia lata, which is effectively part of the living tissue.