Ask any procurement team which absorbable sutures dominate their order sheets and two names come up first: VICRYL and MONOCRYL. Both are Ethicon products, both absorb, and both are ordered in volume — which makes it easy to treat them as interchangeable. They are not. They are built differently, behave differently in tissue, and are specified for different jobs.
This guide compares the two from a buyer's perspective: construction, absorption behaviour, typical applications, and what the differences mean when you plan an order.
The short answer
VICRYL (polyglactin 910) is a braided absorbable suture that supports a wound for roughly three to four weeks — long enough for most soft-tissue repairs to heal — and is fully absorbed in 56–70 days.
MONOCRYL (poliglecaprone 25) is a monofilament absorbable suture that gives up its strength much sooner — most of it within the first two weeks — but passes through tissue with minimal drag, which is why it is a standard choice for subcuticular skin closure. Full absorption takes 91–119 days.
Same category, different jobs — and most facilities stock both.
Construction: braided vs monofilament
VICRYL is braided from multiple fine filaments and coated. The braid is what gives it its handling reputation: knots seat securely and the strand stays where the surgeon places it.
MONOCRYL is a single smooth strand. There is no braid to create surface texture, so it slides through tissue with very little friction — the property that makes it popular for running subcuticular closures, where the strand travels a long path just under the skin.
Neither construction is "better"; they trade against each other. Braided handles and knots well; monofilament passes smoothly and has no braid interstices on its surface.
Two clocks, not one: support time vs absorption time
This is the point that surprises many first-time buyers. Absorbable sutures run on two different clocks:
- Wound support — how long the suture keeps meaningful tensile strength, holding tissue together while it heals.
- Complete absorption — how long until the material is fully gone from the body.
The counterintuitive part: MONOCRYL loses its supporting strength faster, yet takes longer to disappear.
As a general guide from the manufacturer's published data:
- VICRYL retains approximately 75% of its strength at two weeks, 50% at three weeks, and 25% at four weeks. Complete absorption: 56–70 days.
- MONOCRYL's strength tapers fast, and the dyed and undyed versions differ: undyed retains roughly 50–60% at one week and 20–30% at two weeks; dyed retains slightly more, roughly 60–70% at one week and 30–40% at two weeks. By about three weeks there is essentially no residual strength. Complete absorption: 91–119 days.
Clinicians specify by the first clock — how long the repair needs support — not the second. That is why the two products sit side by side on a formulary rather than competing for the same line.
Where each is typically specified
These are patterns you will recognise from your own order history — stocking patterns, not clinical recommendations. The choice in any procedure belongs to the surgeon and the product's instructions for use.
VICRYL appears wherever general soft-tissue approximation and ligation call for a few weeks of support: deep layers, mucosa, and a long list of routine closures. It is ordered dyed (violet) for visibility in deep tissue and undyed where marking is unwanted.
MONOCRYL is the workhorse of subcuticular skin closure — plastic, dermatologic, and day-surgery settings where a smooth pass and low tissue reactivity matter and the tissue regains strength quickly. Undyed is standard near the skin; a dyed option exists for deeper placement.
Side by side
| VICRYL | MONOCRYL | |
|---|---|---|
| Material | Polyglactin 910 | Poliglecaprone 25 |
| Structure | Braided, coated | Monofilament |
| Wound support | ~3–4 weeks (75% at 2 wk, 50% at 3 wk) | Fades fast; ~none by 3 weeks |
| Complete absorption | 56–70 days | 91–119 days |
| Known for | Knot security, handling | Smooth pass, low tissue drag |
| Typical roles | General soft-tissue closure, ligation, deep layers | Subcuticular skin closure, fine soft-tissue work |
| Colour options | Dyed (violet) / undyed | Dyed / undyed |
What this means when you order
Because the two serve different jobs, the practical procurement question is not which one but what mix. A facility heavy on day surgery and skin closure will burn through MONOCRYL references; a broad general-surgery caseload leans on VICRYL across a wider range of gauges and needles. Reviewing a few months of theatre usage against your stock list usually reveals the ratio — and the gaps.
Both families span many reference codes (gauge × needle × length × dyed/undyed), so the fastest way to a clean order is simply to send the reference list you already use.
Sourcing VICRYL and MONOCRYL together
OGT Medical Supply is an independent distributor of genuine Ethicon sutures, and VICRYL and MONOCRYL references are among the most requested lines in our catalog. Every quotation includes stock, batch numbers, expiry dates, price, and lead time for the exact references requested — send your list and quantities and we confirm within one business day.
OGT Medical Supply is an independent distributor of surgical sutures. Ethicon™, VICRYL™, and MONOCRYL™ are trademarks of their respective owners. We are not affiliated with or endorsed by Ethicon, Inc. or Johnson & Johnson. This article is general procurement guidance based on the manufacturer's published product information; it is not clinical or regulatory advice, and product selection for any procedure rests with the treating clinician and the product's instructions for use.