It resists harboring microorganisms, and it ties down smoothly. A multifilament suture consists of several filaments twisted or braided together. This gives good handling and tying qualities. However, variability in knot strength among multifilament sutures might arise from the technical aspects of the braiding or twisting process. The sizes and tensile strengths for all suture materials are standardized by U.S.P. regulations.
Size denotes the diameter of the material.
As the number of 0's decreases, the size of the strand increases. The smaller the size, the less tensile strength the strand will have. Tensile strength of a suture is the measures pounds of tension that the strand will withstand before it breaks when knotted. The surgeon has a choice of suture materials from which to select for use in body tissues. Adequate strength of the suture material will prevent suture breakage.