Which statement about absorbable sutures is true?

• A. They dissolve by body fluids and do not need to be removed
• B. They must be removed after healing
• C. They are never used for skin
• D. They are only synthetic

Answer: (A)

Absorbable sutures are designed to break down in the body over time, so they do not need to be removed. They can be made from natural materials or synthetic polymers, and the body gradually degrades them through processes like hydrolysis or enzymatic digestion. The duration before they dissolve varies by material and tissue, from days to weeks or months. This property is exactly why they’re used when it’s impractical to remove sutures or when healing is expected to progress quickly in deeper tissues.

Because of this, the statement that absorbable sutures dissolve by body fluids and do not need to be removed is true. Other options aren’t accurate: absorbables don’t always require removal because they dissolve; some are used for skin closures in certain situations (so they’re not “never” used for skin); and absorbables can be natural as well as synthetic, so they’re not “only synthetic.”