b. Locked Running Suture. The locked running suture is similar to the running
suture. This suture, however, passes through the preceding loop before reentering the
skin.
(1) Advantages. The locked running suture is useful in the rare situations
where the wound edges have to be pulled together under tension to control bleeding.
The sutures are secure in that they are locked into preceding loops.
(2) Disadvantages. Inserting the locked running sutures take more time.
Also, tissue may be strangled if the sutures are not inserted carefully.
Figure 2-9. The running suture.
Figure 2-10. The locked running suture.
MD0574
2-21