SUTURING: THE BASICS

KEY FIGURES:
Curved needles: tapered and cutting                       Simple sutures
Eversion of skin edges                                           Continuous vs. interrupted closure
Instruments: needle holder                                      Mattress sutures
Instruments: forceps with teeth                               Buried intradermal sutures
Instruments: suture scissors                                     Figure-of-eight sutures
Holding scissors and needle holder                         Instrument tie
Needle in the needle holder                                    Skin stapler in position
Holding the forceps                                                Staple remover: clamp removing the staple
Face bites vs. body bites                                        Adhesive strips
Needle entering tissues at 90° angle

Suturing is the joining of tissues with needle and “thread,” so that the

tissues bind together and heal. The “thread” is actually specialized

suture material.

Health care providers frequently encounter wounds in need of suturing,

and it is important to become proficient. You can practice your suturing

skills on pigs’ feet, available at a butcher shop. This chapter gives

you all the necessary information to perform basic suturing, including:

• Types of needles and suture material

• Selection of material for various wounds and situations

• Techniques

Information about the proper use of local anesthetics for pain control

while placing sutures is discussed in chapter 3.