What are the parts of a surgical needle. How do you classify surgical needles

The surgical needle is comprised of 3 parts: the needle point, the needle body, and the swaged (press-fit) end.

Needle may be broadly classified as

- Traumatic

- Atraumatic

1. Traumatic needles are needles with holes or eyes which are supplied to the hospital separate from their suture thread. The suture must be threaded on site, as is done when sewing at home.58 Practical Manual

2. Atraumatic needles with sutures comprise an eyeless needle attached to a specific length of suture thread. There are several shapes of surgical needles, including:

- straight

- half curved or ski

- 1/4 circle

- 3/8 circle

- 1/2 circle

- 5/8 circle