The present invention is directed to crystalline copolymers of l-lactide and
a minor portion of a cyclic monomer, preferably -caprolactone or trimethylene
carbonate or both. The present copolymers have a melting temperature of at least
150 C. and a crystallinity of at least 20%. Preferred are high molecular
weight copolymers having an inherent viscosity of at least 1.1 dl/g. A variety
of surgical constructs may be formed from the present copolymers. Disclosed are
coated surgical constructs including sutures made of multifilament yarns of the
present copolymers and coated with nitrogenous copolyesters which will bioabsorb
in less than three years and will maintain at least 50% of their initial strength
three weeks post-operatively.