Introduction
Intracutaneous suturing produces an attractive end result because there are no visable points of entry or exit of suturing material.
Intracutaneous suturing may be considered for wounds that meet the following criteria:
- There is no tension in the wound margins.
- The wound is uncontaminated (intracutaneous suturing requires the wound to be hermetically sealed).
- The edges of the wound must be straight.
Material
Atraumatic reabsorbable or monofilament non-reabsorbable suture.
Procedure
- Establish the first point of entry along the extension of the wound margin about 1 cm from the beginning of the wound [Figure 35-a].
- Affix the suture to the skin by either tying a few knots in the end of the suture or adhering the end to the skin with a suture strip.
- Allow the needle to enter in the corner of the wound [Figure 35-b].
- Insert the needle ½ cm intracutaneously in one of the wound margins [Figure 35-c].
Figure 35
- Exit ½ cm further intracutaneously in the opposite wound margin.
- “Zigzag” in this manner over the entire length of the wound margins.
- The final exit point should be along the extension of the wound margin beyond the end of the wound.
- Affix the suture thread by adhering it to the skin with plasters, or by tying a few knots in the thread.