Why would you use a horizontal mattress suture?

The horizontal mattress suture is useful for wounds under high tension because it provides strength and wound eversion. This suture may also be used as a stay stitch for temporary approximation of wound edges, allowing placement of simple interrupted or subcuticular stitches.

What is the difference between vertical and horizontal mattress sutures?

The horizontal mattress is also comprised of two bites across the wound margin, but unlike the vertical mattress, these bites are spaced apart along the horizontal plane, are at the same distance from the wound margin, and reach the same depth.

What is a continuous running suture?

A simple running (continuous) suture is essentially an uninterrupted series of simple interrupted sutures. The suture is started by placing a simple interrupted stitch, which is tied but not cut. A series of simple sutures are placed in succession, without the suture material being tied or cut after each pass.

What is vertical mattress suture used for?

Vertical mattress sutures are particularly useful in wounds under tension. They also help to evert wound edges in situations where the skin is prone to naturally inverting into the wound. The vertical mattress stitch has one deep throw and one superficial throw (directly above and parallel) to evert the skin edges.

How long is the expected timing suture removal for retention sutures?

In general, the greater the tension across a wound, the longer the sutures should remain in place. As a guide, on the face, sutures should be removed in 5-7 days; on the neck, 7 days; on the scalp, 10 days; on the trunk and upper extremities, 10-14 days; and on the lower extremities, 14-21 days.

When should you remove mattress stitches?

Because of the risk of scarring from horizontal mattress sutures, some authorities recommend that they be removed as early as three to five days after placement. Early suture removal is especially important in cosmetically important areas.

Does removing sutures hurt?

The doctor simply clips each thread near the knot and pulls them out. You may feel a slight tugging sensation, but the removal of stitches shouldn’t hurt at all. You won’t even need an anesthetic. Although removing stitches is not a difficult process, you shouldn’t try to remove them yourself.

What is a mattress stitch in surgery?

The horizontal mattress suture is an everting suture technique that spreads tension along a wound edge. 1,6,7 This technique is commonly used for pulling wound edges together over a distance, or as the initial suture to anchor two wound edges (holding sutures).