Which term describes a needle with suturing material permanently attached to its end?

Which term describes a needle with suturing material permanently attached to its end?

• A. Swaged needle
• B. Retractor
• C. Scissors
• D. Probe

Answer: (A)

Understanding how suturing material attaches to a needle is the key idea here. A swaged needle has the suture permanently attached to its end, forming a single, smooth unit that can pass through tissue with less drag. This makes suturing faster and reduces tissue trauma because there’s no loose suture tail to catch or snag as you work. In contrast, an eyed needle requires threading the suture through a hole at the needle tip, so the suture isn’t fixed to the needle and must be tied as you go, which can increase handling and tissue drag. The other terms you might encounter—retractor, scissors, and probe—refer to different instruments used for holding tissue back, cutting, and exploring wounds, not to needle-suture attachment.

Understanding how suturing material attaches to a needle is the key idea here. A swaged needle has the suture permanently attached to its end, forming a single, smooth unit that can pass through tissue with less drag. This makes suturing faster and reduces tissue trauma because there’s no loose suture tail to catch or snag as you work. In contrast, an eyed needle requires threading the suture through a hole at the needle tip, so the suture isn’t fixed to the needle and must be tied as you go, which can increase handling and tissue drag. The other terms you might encounter—retractor, scissors, and probe—refer to different instruments used for holding tissue back, cutting, and exploring wounds, not to needle-suture attachment.