Surgery
Volume 26, Issue 2 , Pages 48-53, February 2008

Sutures, ligatures and staples

Kirtikbhai A Patel FRCS is a Specialist Registrar in the Department of General Surgery, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield, UK. Conflicts of interest: none declared

W E G Thomas FRCS FSACS(Hon) is a Consultant Surgeon and Clinical Director of Surgery at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield, UK. Conflicts of interest: none declared

Abstract 

After any operative procedure (assuming there is no tension and a good blood supply), careful approximation of the tissues will allow healing by primary intention. The method for the approximation of the tissue edges varies depending on the site and tissue, but the mainstay in the UK is the suture. This contribution examines the classification of suture material, the physical and chemical characteristics of suture materials, knot tying, suture needles, suturing techniques and surgical staples and stapling techniques.

Keywords: anastomosis, clips, general surgery, ligature, staples, stapling technique, suture, tissue glue, wound closure

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PII: S0263-9319(07)00317-1

doi:10.1016/j.mpsur.2007.11.002

Surgery
Volume 26, Issue 2 , Pages 48-53, February 2008

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