Properties

• interrupted
• appositional
• appropriate for normal tension on the incision's edges
  • local tension is managed by adjusting tension on individual sutures
  • not recommended if significant tension
• minimal impact on the local blood supply to the incision's edges unless overtightened

Properties

• interrupted
• appositional
• appropriate for normal tension on the incision's edges
  • local tension is managed by adjusting tension on individual sutures
  • not recommended if significant tension
• impact on the local blood supply to the incision’s edges is major if overtightened

General recommendations

• the bite on each side of the incision is roughly equal to the thickness of the tissue (ie. 3-5mm)
• sutures are spaced approximately twice this distance apart (ie. 6-10mm)
• these guidelines are adjusted depending on
  • the tendency of the tissue to open (if opening take bigger bites and move them closer)

Properties

• interrupted
• appositional pattern
• a tension suture
• less effect on blood supply than the horizontal mattress but more than a simple interrupted

General recommendations

• place each bite a distance from the wound edge equal to the thickness of the tissue (ie. 3-5mm)
• space sutures approximately twice this distance apart (ie. 6-8mm)
• leave loop loose enough to accommodate postoperative swelling

Properties

• interrupted
• everting pattern
• a tension suture
• less effect on blood supply than the horizontal mattress, but more than simple interrupted

General recommendations

• inner bite on each side of the incision is roughly equal to the thickness of the skin (ie. 3-5mm)
• outer bite is approximately twice the thickness of the skin (ie. 8-10mm)
• spacing reflects amount of opening tension but is usually about twice the skin thickness

Properties

• interrupted
• appositional pattern
• a tension suture
• "far" component protects against tension while the "near" component apposes the wound edges
• less effect on blood supply than the horizontal mattress, but more than simple interrupted

General recommendations

• width of "near" bite approximates thickness of skin (ie. 3-5mm)
• width of "far" bite is approximately double (ie. 6-10mm)
• name of pattern describes order of bites

Far Near Near Far