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Polyglyconate is the generic name of the material in Maxon absorbable sutures: a copolymer of glycolic acid and trimethylene carbonate that the manufacturer lists as a monofilament, uncoated, green-or-clear suture with a 180-day absorption profile. PDS II is a different material, polydioxanone, with a listed absorption rate of 182-238 days. This page puts the two manufacturer descriptions side by side so a buyer, clinic staff member or student can tell which name means which material.
This page describes products and general use; it is not medical advice.
What polyglyconate is
Polyglyconate is a synthetic absorbable suture material. Medtronic (Covidien) describes its Maxon suture as “Polyglyconate Copolymer of Glycolic Acid and Trimethylene Carbonate” and lists it as an absorbable suture for general soft tissue approximation and/or ligation. An absorbable suture is one the body gradually breaks down, so it does not need to be removed; see our guide to what a suture is and the comparison of absorbable and non-absorbable sutures for the wider picture.
Who uses it: surgeons and surgical teams choose it; clinic staff, central supply and procurement teams handle and stock it; students meet it in surgical-materials courses.
How it is built
The Maxon listing gives these construction details: the material is polyglyconate, the suture is a monofilament (a single strand rather than a braid), it is uncoated, and it comes in green and clear. A monofilament differs from the braided sutures sold as a separate category, which are made of several twisted or woven strands.
Polyglyconate (Maxon) versus polydioxanone (PDS II)
The table uses only what each manufacturer’s own product page states. Where a cell says a property is not stated, that means the manufacturer’s page does not list it, not that the property is absent.
| Item | Maxon (polyglyconate) | PDS II (polydioxanone) |
|---|---|---|
| Material | Copolymer of glycolic acid and trimethylene carbonate | Polydioxanone |
| Absorbable | Yes (synthetic, absorbable) | Yes |
| Absorption figure listed | 180 days | 182-238 days |
| Construction | Monofilament, uncoated | Not stated on the catalog page |
| Color | Green, clear | Violet (listed example) |
| Not indicated or not established | Not indicated for adult cardiovascular tissue, ophthalmic surgery, microsurgery and neural tissue | Safety and effectiveness not established in neural tissue, adult cardiovascular tissue or for use in microsurgery |
Sources: Medtronic Maxon product page and Ethicon PDS II catalog entry D10063, both checked 2026-10-30. Both pages state limits on adult cardiovascular tissue, microsurgery and neural tissue; the Maxon page also lists ophthalmic surgery.
Sizes
The Maxon page lists sizes 7-0 to 1. The PDS II catalog entry cited here is one listing, code D10063: size 5-0, 18 in long, violet, with a TF taper-point needle 13 mm long. It is one catalog item, not the full PDS II size range.
Labeled uses and limits
Maxon is indicated for use as an absorbable suture in general soft tissue approximation and/or ligation, including pediatric cardiovascular tissue where growth is expected and peripheral vascular surgery. The listing gives a tensile strength figure of 6 weeks. It lists contraindications including known sensitivity or allergy to the suture’s components, use where extended tissue approximation is needed, and fixation of permanent cardiovascular prostheses or synthetic grafts. The PDS II entry points to its package insert for indications, so this page does not restate them.
Safe handling basics
- The PDS II entry says: do not resterilize; discard open packages and unused sutures; do not use after the expiration date.
- Follow the instructions for use supplied with the exact product and size; a catalog page is not a substitute for them.
- Sterile supplies are handled differently from non-sterile ones; see sterile versus non-sterile classification.
Common mistakes
- Treating “PDS” and “Maxon” as the same material. PDS II is polydioxanone; Maxon is polyglyconate.
- Assuming the two have the same absorption figure. The listed figures differ (180 days versus 182-238 days), and each is the manufacturer’s own number.
- Reading a single catalog listing as the full size range.
- Resterilizing or reusing an opened package.
FAQ
What is PDS suture?
PDS II is Ethicon’s absorbable suture made of polydioxanone, listed with an absorption rate of 182-238 days.
What is PDS suture made of?
Polydioxanone, per the Ethicon catalog entry D10063.
What are PDS suture uses?
The catalog entry refers readers to the package insert for indications. It states that safety and effectiveness have not been established in neural tissue, adult cardiovascular tissue or microsurgery.
What are PDS suture sizes?
The Ethicon catalog entry lists size 5-0 (18 in, violet). The full range is in the manufacturer’s product documentation.
What is Maxon suture?
Maxon is Medtronic’s (Covidien) monofilament absorbable suture made of polyglyconate, a copolymer of glycolic acid and trimethylene carbonate.
What are Maxon suture uses and sizes?
It is indicated for general soft tissue approximation and/or ligation, in sizes 7-0 to 1, and is not indicated for adult cardiovascular tissue, ophthalmic surgery, microsurgery or neural tissue.
Sources
- Medtronic (Covidien), Maxon monofilament absorbable sutures, product page: https://medtronic.com/covidien/en-za/products/wound-closure/absorbable-sutures/maxon-monofilament-absorbable-sutures.html (checked 2026-10-30).
- Ethicon, PDS II (polydioxanone) suture, catalog code D10063: https://www.ethicon.com/na/node/28166 (checked 2026-10-30).
