Surgical needles come in a wide range of types, shapes, lengths and thicknesses. The choice of needle to be used depends upon the procedure, the nature of the tissue to be sututred and user preference.
The basic classification for needles is normally by needle type. For perineal repair there are three options
The choice of needle shape is frequently governed by the accessibility of the tissue to be sutured - the more confined the operative site, the greater the curvature required. A half circle is the most common needle shape used for perineal repair, although a curved needle is sometimes used for skin.