What Are Sutures?
Stitches are another name for sterile surgical threads that are used to close wounds and incisions. Metal staples as an alternative to sutures may be required for some wounds. The type of suture material entirely depends upon the wound.
Why Are Sutures Used?
Deep cuts and wounds are closed with sutures. A doctor may need to stitch the wound's two edges together layer by layer if there is a deep wound. When this occurs, sutures are left under the skin's surface to close the wound.
Which Types of Sutures and Materials Are Utilized in Medical Procedures?
There are numerous ways to classify the various kinds of sutures. To begin, the material used in sutures can be categorized as either absorbable or nonabsorbable. If one requires a suture, there are a few different kinds. Some examples of absorbable sutures are:
-
Gut Suture: The majority of gynecological surgeries make use of this natural monofilament suture, which is used to heal internal soft tissue wounds. Heart and brain surgeries should not be performed using gut sutures. The body responds strongly to this stitch and will frequently scar over. It is not usually used beyond gynecological medical procedures.
-
PDS, or Polydioxanone: This synthetic monofilament suture can repair soft tissue like abdominal closures.
-
Poliglecaprone: Any soft tissue repair can benefit from the general application of this synthetic monofilament suture. However, cardiovascular procedures should not use this material. Most often, it is used to close skin so that it looks almost invisible.
-
Polyglactin: This synthetic braided suture can repair facial or hand cuts.
Nonabsorbable sutures can be used in every way, primarily for delicate tissue fixes, including cardiovascular and neurological systems. Some examples of non absorbable sutures are:
-
Nylon: It is a natural suture made of monofilament.
-
Propylene (polypropylene): It is a suture made of synthetic monofilament.
-
Silk: It is a natural suture with braids.
-
Ethibond (polyester): It is a synthetic suture with braids.
What Is the Difference Between Sutures and Stitches?
The terms "sutures" and "stitches" are frequently used interchangeably. Sutures are used to repair the wound, and stitches are used to close the wound.
What Are Different Suturing Techniques?
Different types of suturing techniques include:
-
Simple Interrupted Suture: It is the most basic suture and appropriate for almost all situations. The needle is inserted through the wound and out from the other side. The suture should go all the way through the dermis. The needle is inserted again at an equivalent depth on the opposite side of the wound and exits the skin at an equal distance from the wound's edge.
-
Continuous Subcutaneous Interlaced Suture Technique: The interlaced suture technique provides additional resistance, a variation of the continuous subcutaneous suture. It retains most of the tension, allowing surgeons to perform tension-free skin sutures. The interlaced suture serves as an anti-slippage suture as well. Threads provide greater friction at each passage in this suturing technique, resulting in a firmer hold during suturing. It also ensures that the stitches do not loosen during the next passage. Doctors commonly use monofilament sutures because they provide a smoother surface that allows them to pull after each passage to tighten the already sutured part.
-
Continuous Subcutaneous Suture Technique: The continuous subcutaneous technique is the second most commonly used technique. It is frequently used as an alternative to the simple subcutaneous approach, and as it has more resistance, it is also thought to be a more advantageous technique. Continuous sutures can be done faster than simple stitches. But with most sutures, the wound may burst or split open if the suture breaks. When short-term absorbable multifilament sutures are used to suture an injury, the continuous subcutaneous suture technique produces the best results.
-
Simple Skin Suture Technique: The simple skin suture is a suturing technique used to close a wound in which the surgeon performs separate stitches to hold the wound's edges together. Care is taken to ensure that once the first knot is tied, it is placed on one side so it does not directly lie on the edge of the wound. The wound-healing process is not disrupted. They are less likely to impair blood circulation. However, it takes a little longer to place these sutures. This technique produces the best results when using nonabsorbable or mid-term absorbable monofilaments.
-
Corner Sutures: There will be several instances where the wound edges are not straight. Stitches may be required in areas where the edges are twisty or irregular. As a result, a corner pattern may form, and the surgeon may need to use the corner suture technique to surgically close or suture the wound. Doctors take extra precautions to ensure that the corner is correctly sutured so that necrosis of the tissues is avoided. They avoid simple stitches in such areas because they increase the risk of necrosis. Alternatively, they utilize an intra-cutaneous suture tied on the wound's outer surface.
-
Mattress Suture Technique: The mattress suture technique is used when the wound edges are not closed, allowing for tension-free healing. These sutures are most commonly used in areas where the wound's edges tend to invert, such as wounds on concave surfaces. The mattress suture technique is typically used in areas where cosmetic results are critical. The horizontal suture aids in the reduction of wound tension and the closure of dead spaces. It also aids in wound edge eversion.
What Is the Importance of Suturing?
Sutures are necessary surgical aids for enabling wound closure and establishing an ideal environment for wound healing. Sutures are frequently employed to close wounds as the suture material offers essential support to maintain closure.
Conclusion:
Suturing cutaneous tissue has been practiced for thousands of years. Proper suturing techniques also help reduce the risk of bleeding and infection, common complications of skin injuries, and surgical incisions. Sutures are commonly used to close all kinds of superficial or deep wounds. To close a deep wound, the surgeon may need to stitch the edges of the skin by layering them together, which will require placing and leaving sutures beneath the skin.
