Suturing Techniques: How Doctors Stitch You Up 

This story introduces common suturing patterns, focusing on what they look like and why they're used. 

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The Art of the Stitch 

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Suturing is a precise medical skill. Doctors use different suturing techniques to match the wound's location, size, and depth. 

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Simple Interrupted 

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This is the most common technique. Each stitch is placed, tied, and cut separately. Benefit: If one stitch fails, the others hold strong. 

Continuous (Running) Suture 

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A fast method where the stitch runs continuously down the wound, tied only at the beginning and end. Benefit: Quick closure, excellent seal (e.g., in the gut). 

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Subcuticular/Buried Stitches 

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A technique used just beneath the skin surface. The thread runs horizontally, leaving minimal visible marks. Benefit: Great for cosmetics and low-tension areas. 

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Mattress Sutures 

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hese stitches take "bites" on both sides of the wound, often in a square or figure-eight pattern. Benefit: Used for high-tension wounds or to pull wound edges outward. 

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