Sutures, also known as stitches, are medical devices used to hold body tissues together and approximate wound edges after an injury or surgery. They are sterile surgical threads that are used to repair cuts or close incisions from surgery. Sutures are placed by mounting a needle with attached suture into a needle holder, pressing the needle point into the flesh, advancing it along the trajectory of the needles curve until it emerges, and pulling it through. The trailing thread is then tied into a knot, usually a square knot or surgeons knot.

Sutures can be classified in many ways. First, suture material can be classified as either absorbable or non-absorbable. Absorbable sutures do not require removal as the enzymes found in the tissues of the body will naturally digest them. Non-absorbable sutures will need to be removed by a doctor in the days or weeks following the procedure or may be left in permanently.

Suture material is graded according to the diameter of the suture strand. The grading system uses the letter “O” preceded by a number to indicate material diameter. The higher the number, the smaller the diameter of the suture strand.

Sutures can be further categorized by their raw origin. Natural sutures are made of natural fibers, such as silk or catgut, and are less frequently used as they tend to provoke a greater tissue reaction. Synthetic sutures are made of materials such as nylon, polypropylene, and polyester, and are more commonly used.

Different types of sutures can be used depending on the size of the wound, location, and severity. The different types of sutures can be classified in many ways, including absorbable vs. non-absorbable, synthetic vs. natural, and monofilament vs. multifilament.

Some common types of sutures include:

• Interrupted stitch: A single stitch that is tied off after each pass through the skin. This type of stitch is used for wounds that require precise alignment of the edges, such as facial lacerations.
• Continuous stitch: A series of stitches that are tied off at the beginning and end of the wound. This type of stitch is used for wounds that are long and straight, such as abdominal incisions.
• Subcuticular stitch: A continuous suture where the needle enters and exits the epidermis along the plane of the skin. This stitch is for approximating superficial skin edges and provides the best cosmetic result.
• Barbed suture: A newer type of suture manufactured with barbs that help approximate wounds and do not require knots for security. Barbed sutures more evenly distribute tension along the wound and are also known to be more time-efficient[[...