c. Technique for the Simple Skin Suture.
(1) Suture materials. Choose the thinnest suture possible. Nylon or prolene
is the most appropriate. The correct thickness of the suture material depends on the
region of the body to be repaired. Look at these examples of the thickness of suture
material and the corresponding part of the body to be repaired:
(a)
6.0--face.
(b) 5.0 or 4.0--arms, legs, trunk, feet.
(c)
5.0 or 6.0--hands.
(d) 4.0 or 3.0--scalp of women.
(e) 4.0 or 5.0--scalp of men (since men may lose their hair).
(2) Needles. Use a small needle for fine work. Choose a large cutting
needle for areas such as the scalp where a few large bites will suffice.
(3) Suture loop configuration. The base of the suture loop should be as
wide or wider than the top of the suture loop. This helps in matching the edges of the
wound. Avoid having the suture loop narrow at the base of the wound. Instead, have
the loop as broad at the base as at the top. When the loop is closed by tying the stitch,
the greater tissue in the upper portion will create edge eversion. (If too little tissue is at
the base of the loop, the edges will tend to invert.)
Figure 2-4. Suture loop configuration.
MD0574
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