A surgical suture brings tissues together so wound edges can heal after injury or surgery. Safe and effective closure depends on matching the suture, needle, and technique to the wound and the tissue.
A surgical suture is a medical device—usually a needle attached to thread—used to hold body tissues together and approximate wound edges. Sutures differ in their thread material, size, characteristics, needle shape, and needle size. Selection depends on the location and characteristics of the wound and the tissues being approximated.
All flashcards
What is a surgical suture?
A medical device, usually a needle attached to thread, used to hold tissues together and approximate wound edges after injury or surgery.
How does an eyed needle differ from a swaged needle?
An eyed needle has a hole through which the operator threads the suture. A swaged needle has the thread attached directly, avoiding the protruding thread and threading step.
How do monofilament and polyfilament sutures differ?
A monofilament is a single strand; a polyfilament consists of multiple fibers, often braided together.
What is the difference between cutting and reverse-cutting points?
Both have triangular cutting geometry, but a cutting point has its edge on the inside curve; a reverse-cutting point has its edge on the outside curve.
What are pop-off needles commonly used for?
They are commonly used for interrupted sutures because a sharp tug detaches each needle from its thread after the stitch is passed.
Quiz questions
What is the primary purpose of a surgical suture?Answer: To approximate wound edges and hold tissues together during healing.
Why can a swaged needle cause less tissue drag than an eyed needle?Answer: Its attached thread is narrower than the needle, reducing drag during passage.
Which needle point has a round, tapered body ending in a small triangular cutting point?Answer: Trocar point, also called tapercut.
Which needle designs are suited to working through narrow laparoscopic cannulas?Answer: Half-curved ski needles and canoe designs.
Why might a pop-off needle be selected for interrupted sutures?Answer: It detaches from the thread with a sharp tug, allowing stitches to be tied separately.
Based on the Wikipedia article Surgical suture, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.