Suture Basics
This type of suture is made from materials that will naturally dissolve in the body.
What is an absorbable suture?
These are easy to use, provide uniform tension, and close wounds quickly — but must be removed.
What are staples?
This healing process involves granulation and wound contraction.
What is secondary intention?
Which infection category includes involvement of fascia and muscle?
What is deep incisional?
This type of drain is open and passive.
What is a Penrose drain?
This type of suture strand consists of a single fiber.
What is a monofilament?
This closure method reduces infection risk and scarring but is limited to small, superficial wounds.
What are skin adhesives?
This healing type occurs when a clean incision has minimal tissue loss and wound edges are approximated.
What is primary intention?
What’s the time frame for a superficial incisional SSI?
Within 30 days after surgery.
This therapy uses controlled suction to promote healing in difficult wounds.
What is Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT) or VAC?
Sutures can be made from these two material types.
What are natural and synthetic materials?
This inexpensive method can loosen with moisture, risking wound reopening.
What are adhesive strips? (steri strips)
Why are deep sutures not used in tertiary intention?
To avoid granuloma formation.
A superficial incisional SSI involves which layers?
What are the epidermis, dermis, and subcutaneous layers?
Name one function of negative pressure wound therapy NPWT.
Removes exudate, reduces edema, or promotes granulation tissue.
This suture type uses single stitches tied separately.
What is an interrupted stitch?
This device applies like a zipper and spreads tension away from wound edges.
What is a zipper closure system? * you will see this in knee replacements
Which intention type would be used for a wound with gross infection?
What is tertiary intention?
A deep incisional infection occurs within how many days after surgery?
Between 30 and 90 days
Why must aseptic technique be used when handling drains?
Because drains create a portal for microorganisms.
This heavy suture reinforces the main suture line for added strength.
What is a retention suture?
Name one disadvantage of using a zipper closure.
What is the cost of the product?
When a wound is left open due to infection or tissue loss and later closed, it heals by this method.
What is tertiary intention (delayed primary closure)?
An organ/space SSI affects which wound layer?
What is the organ or space layer?
This therapy uses controlled suction to promote healing in difficult wounds.
What is Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT) or VAC?