A thread which is absorbed slowly and which has a polyglycolic acid base has been used since 1975 in the Sainte-Foy-les-Lyon Maternity Unit to sew up episiotomies and perineal tears. The authors had 98.70 p. 100 of excellent results out of 1082 cases from the anatomic, aesthetic and functional angle. This technique appears to be a useful one in early mobilisation in obstetrics.