Sutures

Question 1

Simple Interrupted

Answer 1

• Non-absorbable suture for skin closure
• Preferred suture technique for lacerations
• Allows for drainage between each stitch
• Rule of Halves
• Non-absorbable (3-0, 4-0, 5-0 Nylon) and removed in 5-8 d

Question 2

Vertical Mattress

Answer 2

• Far-Far/Near-Near
• Backloading
• Non-absorbable for skin closure
• Deep wounds of high tension (Joints, Knees, Elbows)
• Rule of Halves

Question 3

Horizontal Mattress

Answer 3

• Backloading
• Used for wounds through the dermis layer in high tension areas of natural inversion
• Rule of Halves
• Non-absorbable suture

Question 4

Continuous Running

Answer 4

• Fascia and peritoneal closure
• DO NOT USE if risk of hematoma
• Absorbable suture
• Start knot, loop end opposite site

Question 5

Inverted Interrupted

Answer 5

• Absorbable suture
• Used to close “dead space”
• Used to short skin incisions (laparoscopic port sites and pediatric incisions)
• Rule of Halves
• Stay within subcutaneous or subcuticular tissue
• Deep-superficial/superficial-deep
• Cover with steri strips

Question 6

Running Subcuticular

Answer 6

• Absorbable suture
• Can only be used on clean incisional surgical wounds
• Used for areas of low tension (breast surgery, herni repairs, c-sections, thyroidectomy, pediatric cases)
• Helps decrease keloids in patients due to reduction in needle holes
• Starts with inverted interrupted
• Aberdeen hitch: slip knots without ties