In a surgery, your body is cut open to repair or remove an affected part. It gets done by making an incision on a particular body part. The medical equipment is inserted through the incision for repair or removal. For laser application surgeries, typically, a smaller incision gets done. Once the surgery completes, the doctor closes the wounded or incision area by stitching it. This prevents bleeding and infection.
Sutures are a medical device used commonly in every surgical procedure. They hold together tissues after a surgery. It is done using a needle and thread. Many confuse sutures to be stitches. Suture is the instrument used to close a wound. Stitches are used to close the wound. Both are closely associated with each other but are different.
Different sutures and their uses
Sutures can be classified into various types depending on their absorbability, structure, and material. Based on absorbability, sutures are of two types: absorbable and non-absorbable sutures. Absorbable sutures are absorbed by your body's enzymes. Non-absorbable sutures are removed or left intact as it is in your body post-surgery. Your body's enzymes do not absorb them.
Based on structure, sutures are of two types: monofilament and braided. Monofilament sutures are made of a single thread. Given their delicate structure, they pass through various body tissues easily. Braided sutures are made of two threads. The suture is more secure. Based on material, sutures are of two types: natural and synthetic. They have further classification.
Natural sutures are of two kinds: gut and polypropylene sutures. Synthetic sutures include poliglecaprone and polyglactin. The type of suture used gets determined considering your wound and surgery. All sutures are sterilised before use. This eliminates the risk of any infection. Enquire with your doctor and learn how the entire surgical procedure happens to be aware and alert.
Types of suture technique and their application
Suture technique means how the suture holds your body tissues together. Following is an overview of various suture techniques and their application:
- Continuous sutures – A single strand of suture thread gets stitched continuously to close the wound. This suture technique is secure and facilitates pressure distribution across the suture strand.
- Interpreted sutures – Many strands of suture thread are used to close a wound. Once the stitching happens, the suture material is cut and tied off. A plus point of this technique is that even if one stitch breaks open, the remaining hold the wound securely.
- Deep sutures – This suture is placed in deep tissue layers. The sutures can be either continuous or interpreted. Primarily such types of sutures are used in facial surgeries. They ensure seamless surgery completion and healing.
- Buried sutures – Here, a suture knot gets implemented in the wound area that should be closed. The suture is generally not removable post-surgery.