Surgical Staples Vs. Surgical Cotton

Surgical staples and surgical cotton are materials used by medical professionals for wound care. According to the Gale Encyclopedia of Surgery: A Guide for Patients and Caregivers, surgical cotton, often referred to as gauze is one of several materials used as a bandage for dressing wounds or surgical incisions. Surgical staples are a material used specifically to close an incision by a surgeon.

Features

• According to Encyclopedia.com, surgical staples are typically made of stainless steel or titanium. Surgical cotton or gauze is woven fabric of absorbent cotton.

Function

• Surgical staples are used most commonly to close lacerations on the scalp or to close the outer layers of skin in orthopedic procedures according to Encyclopedia.com.
  Gale Encyclopedia of Surgery: A Guide for Patients and Caregivers says surgical cotton or gauze is used to "pack wounds, and also for debridement and wicking".

Prevention/Solution

• Gauze prevents disease organisms from entering a wound while holding moisture close to the skin. This moist environment is suppose to help speed up healing an incision.
  Staples are used because they are less likely to cause infections than sutures, and they also take less time to use.

Risks

• Surgical staples can leave scars if the edges of the wound or incision have not been properly aligned.
  Infection can occur if the surgical cotton is not properly cared for.

Benefits

• Both surgical cotton and surgical staples are designed to lower the risk of infection, scarring, and avoid pain or discomfort.