Stitches - Sutures

Sutures, or stitches, are materials used to close a wound. They are used in an attempt to improve and speed healing.

What is the information for this topic?

Many different types of materials can be used to close a wound. These materials range from a special glue to wire staples, and from animal protein to synthetic thread-like materials. Sutures are used to close cuts from injuries or surgery and other procedures. Sutures are commonly used on the skin, but can also be used for internal tissues, organs, and blood vessels.

One important distinction among different kinds of skin sutures is whether the sutures are absorbable or nonabsorbable.

Sutures applied to deeper tissues are usually never noticed. A person is normally put to sleep with general anesthesia during procedures that require internal sutures. Generally, these sutures do not ever need to be removed, even if they do not dissolve.

When sutures are applied to the skin after a cut, the wound is first cleaned. Local anesthesia may be injected under the skin that will be stitched. A cotton ball soaked in numbing medicine can be used to apply topical anesthesia to the wound on a child. This is generally left on for 15 minutes. Once the area is numb, the skin is stitched closed. After the sutures are in place, antibiotic cream and a bandage may be applied.

After getting sutures in the skin and other visible areas, it is important for a person to follow steps for proper home care. This allows the wound to heal properly and helps avoid infection. These instructions vary and will be provided by the healthcare provider who did the sutures. Often a person will be told to:

A person should return to the healthcare provider or emergency department as scheduled if the sutures need to be removed. This needs to be done for most nonabsorbable sutures. Most sutures are removed 4 to 10 days after being applied. Leaving sutures in longer than advised can lead to increased scar formation or infections.

All wounds, whether made during surgery or sustained as an injury, may get infected. It is important to watch for signs of infection in the wound, which include:

If signs of infection occur, a healthcare provider should be notified. If any bleeding from the wound occurs, gentle pressure can be applied with a clean bandage or gauze. If bleeding continues for more than 15 minutes, a healthcare provider should be called.

By pulling the edges of a wound together, stitches usually help in healing. However, they have the potential to cause infection and scarring. This is especially true when sutures are left in for too long. Most people get a better result with sutures than without. A healthcare provider can advise whether or not sutures are needed for a wound after examining it.