TRIP

Removing Stitches

eMedicine Consumer Health (USA), 2004

Among the many methods for closing wounds of the skin, stitching, or suturing, is the most common form of repairing a wound.
Understanding the various skin-closure procedures and knowing how they are put in and what to expect when they are removed can help overcome much of this anxiety.
Also, surgeons use stitches during operations to tie ends of bleeding blood vessels and to close surgical incisions.
These sutures are used to close skin or external wounds and require removal once the wound has healed.
Then the needle with the thread attached is used to "sew" the edges of the wound together, in an effort to recreate the original appearance.
Staples have the advantage of being quicker, more economical, and causing fewer infections than stitches.
Disadvantages of staples are permanent scars if used inappropriately and imperfect aligning of the wound edges, which can lead to improper healing.
For many people, there is no need for a painful injection of anesthetic when using skin closure tapes.
Disadvantages of using skin closure tapes include less precision in bringing wound edges together than suturing.
For example, body areas with secretions such as the armpits, palms, or soles are difficult areas to place adhesive strips.
This material is applied to the edges of the wound somewhat like glue and should keep the edges of the wound together until healing occurs.