Types of Wound Closures

Significant wounds, such as surgical incisions or lacerations caused by injuries, must be closed as quickly as possible in sanitary environments using sterile materials to avoid infection. Different types of wound closures have evolved through medical research, offering new options for physicians to address specific injuries. Research analyst Sreevidhya Praveen notes that surgeons and emergency room physicians should be informed of all available wound closure methods so that their patients can benefit from these medical advances.

Sutures

• Sutures, commonly known as “stitches,” are the most commonly used wound closures. Mika Sinanan, M.D., explains that sutures close a wound when a physician threads them into the skin. Absorbable sutures, which dissolve into the body, are often made from catgut. Nonabsorbable sutures, which must be removed once the wound heals, can be composed of silk or nylon.

Staples

• Staples are often used to close deep wounds and surgical incisions. They can be made from titanium or stainless steel. Titanium is usually preferred, as it poses a lower infection threat to the patient. Dr. Sinanan notes that staples have the potential to cause cross-hatched scarring, yet they are proving to be more time-efficient and practical than sutures for physicians and patients alike. Sreevidhya Praveen reports that the use of staples can decrease a patient’s time in surgery by 60 percent, reducing patient discomfort and risk of complications under anesthesia, and also saving operating room costs.

Tape

• Microporous tape can be used as closure “strips” for smaller wounds and surface lacerations that do not penetrate deeply into the skin and flesh. The tape holds the edges of the skin together and incites tissue healing. According to Dr. Sinanan, the most effect tapes are made of spun-bonded nylon, as they are less likely to detach from the wound before healing is complete. A hypoallergenic adhesive helps prevent the formation of blisters near the wound.

Skin Grafts and Pedicle Flaps

• Wounds that are too wide for the skin edges to be pulled together can be closed with skin grafts. The website Lifescript explains that a graft involves taking a piece of skin and transplanting it over the wound. The transplanted skin may come from a donor body or from another area of the patient’s own body. Pedicle flaps are similar transplants that include tissue along with skin. Dr. Sinanan notes that they are most often used for closing wounds involving cartilage and bone.