Suture Technique and Suture removal: Difference between pages

From BME Encyclopedia
(Difference between pages)
Jump to navigation Jump to search
(Page conversion via llm-mediawiki-rev -jwm)
 
(Page conversion via llm-mediawiki-rev -jwm)
 
Line 1: Line 1:
'''Proper technique is essential for good healing of sutures'''
''Non-absorbable sutures must eventually be removed''


'''Please note that in these [[Suture|suture]] sections I am only scraping the surface. If you are performing procedures where sutures may be required, you ''MUST'' seek additional training.'''
[[Sutures|Skin sutures]] generally are removed from five to eight days after application, with sutures on the neck or face generally being removed slightly sooner. Absorbable sutures lose enough strength in that period that they can often be removed without cutting, but non-absorbables will need to be cut out:


Any idiot can suture using a receiving tube and treating it like a piercing. However, this process is extremely slow and less accurate. Responsible practitioners will educate themselves as to proper suture technique, and most importantly '''practice'''.
1- Clean the area with an [[Antiseptic|antiseptic]], and, if required, use [[Hydrogen peroxide|hydrogen peroxide]] to remove any [[Crusties|crusties]].


When tying sutures, a few things should be kept in mind:
2- Pick up one end of the suture, and make the cut as close to where the suture goes in the [[Skin|skin]] as possible.


* Keep it simple -- use the least amount of sutures possible, in the smallest and simplest material.
3- Gently pull the suture out.
* The knots must be firm, to keep slipping unlikely. At the same time, while tying, be careful not to "saw" the suture against itself, weakening it. In addition, if instruments are being used, take care not to crush the suture material.
* Take care not to tie the sutures too tight, as that can increase scarring, cut the skin, and weaken the suture material.
* While tying, maintain some tension after the first loop is made to avoid loosening the thrown.
* ''In general'', there is no advantage to extra ties. If you tied your knot properly, two loops will be just fine.
* Make sure things line up right! Use "landmarks" on the skin if you need to. Remember, your goal is to hold the damaged tissue in place until the body can heal it enough to stay together without support.


There are many ways to suture as far as how the sutures are laid out -- interrupted, mattress, continuous, etc. In addition, sutures may be placed through the skin as well as being entirely buried. Simple suturing covers most situations body modification artists need to face -- if you become fluid in the instrument knot, that will cover 99% of these procedures.
To reduce the risk of infection, make sure the cut is made where the suture goes in the skin (rather than just anywhere in the exposed area). If you draw a suture that's been in contact with the outside world, you risk drawing contamination into the [[Wound|wound]] and getting an [[Infection|infection]].


== Related Entries ==
[[Doctor|Doctors]] use specialized [[Tools|tools]] for suture removal, but if you find yourself in a bind, [[Tweezers|tweezers]] and [[Nail clippers|nail clippers]] do the job just fine.
* [[:Category:Knots|Visit the knots category for more technical details on knotwork]].
* [[Sutures]]

Latest revision as of 18:28, 25 September 2023

Non-absorbable sutures must eventually be removed

Skin sutures generally are removed from five to eight days after application, with sutures on the neck or face generally being removed slightly sooner. Absorbable sutures lose enough strength in that period that they can often be removed without cutting, but non-absorbables will need to be cut out:

1- Clean the area with an antiseptic, and, if required, use hydrogen peroxide to remove any crusties.

2- Pick up one end of the suture, and make the cut as close to where the suture goes in the skin as possible.

3- Gently pull the suture out.

To reduce the risk of infection, make sure the cut is made where the suture goes in the skin (rather than just anywhere in the exposed area). If you draw a suture that's been in contact with the outside world, you risk drawing contamination into the wound and getting an infection.

Doctors use specialized tools for suture removal, but if you find yourself in a bind, tweezers and nail clippers do the job just fine.

Retrieved from "https://wiki.bme.com/index.php?title=Suture_Technique&oldid=6907"