How To Do Plastic Surgical Repair With Buried Deep Dermal Sutures

Deep wounds, when closing just the epidermal layer might leave significant pockets of dead space

Wounds under increased tension, which require strong dermal closure to heal optimally

Wounds prone to keloid formation, to minimize wound skin tension

Lacerations that require extended healing, in which a nonabsorbable dermal suture is left in place for a longer period than recommended with a surface suture

None

Inadequate or thin dermal layer

Wound that cannot be adequately cleaned (however, there is no increased risk of infection using dermal sutures in clean wounds)

Bleeding

Infection

Fibrosis

Face mask and safety glasses (or a face shield), head caps, gowns, gloves

Sterile drapes, towels (for wound debridement and suturing)

Antiseptic solution (eg, chlorhexidine or povidone-iodine)

A standard suture tray including local anesthesia and skin suture materials

Absorbable suture (usually monofilament and usually 4-0 or 5-0, but sometimes 3-0)

Nonocclusive dressing

Antibiotic ointment

Monofilament suture material minimizes tissue reaction and inflammation, leading to better results. Monofilament is preferred to other suture types (eg, braided) except for lacerations under excessive tension (eg, in the tongue). Sizes 4-0 and 5-0 are used most often, but size 3-0 may be needed, for example, for lacerations under tension (eg, those over joints).

Buried, absorbable dermal sutures (also called simple deep dermal sutures) do not appear to provoke more inflammation than percutaneous running sutures.

Because dermal sutures alone may not achieve perfect approximation of the vertical height of the wound edges, in cosmetic closures they are often followed by surface suturing (eg, running sutures).

Consider using buried intradermal sutures for lacerations in cosmetically important areas that are subject to dynamic skin tension. (Skin tension lines in the face are shown in the figure Representative minimal skin tension lines Representative minimal skin tension lines .)

Position the patient comfortably reclined or supine.

Adjust the stretcher height so that you will be comfortable either sitting or standing at the bedside.

The laceration should be well lit, preferably with an overhead procedure light.

Cleanse, anesthetize, irrigate, and, if necessary, debride the wound.

Place a sterile fenestrated drape over the wound. Place additional drapes nearby as needed to provide a large enough sterile work area.

Insert the needle into the dermis at the bottom of the wound and direct it upward toward the skin surface, exiting near the dermal-epidermal junction on the same side.

Insert the needle on the opposite side of the wound near the dermal-epidermal junction, directly across from the point of exit. Take small bites to avoid puckering of the skin surface.

Exit the bite at the same dermal plane as and opposite the bite on the other side.

Tie the knot, using 3 or fewer throws.

Cut the suture, leaving about a 3-mm tail.

If needed to help achieve precise skin approximation, suture the skin. Place a fine (eg, 6-0) running skin suture. At one end of the laceration tie a simple suture with a knot but leave the needle and suture attached. Evert the skin edges along the length of the laceration if possible. Advance the needle, taking small bites at a 45-degree angle to the long axis of the laceration (perpendicular to the skin) for the complete length of the laceration. After the final bite, extend a loop of suture from the wound and use this loop as one end of suture for the final tie.

Dress the wound (see Lacerations Lacerations Lacerations are tears in soft body tissue. Care of lacerations Enables prompt healing Minimizes risk of infection Optimizes cosmetic results read more and How To Cleanse, Irrigate, Debride, and Dress Wounds How To Cleanse, Irrigate, Debride, and Dress Wounds Wound hygiene (eg, cleansing, irrigation, and debridement), including thorough examination of the wound and surrounding tissues, promotes uncomplicated healing of traumatic skin wounds and is... read more ).

Splint joints whose movement will cause wound tension (eg, an elbow splint for a dorsal elbow laceration).

Instruct the patient to keep the dressing dry and in place and to return in 2 days for a wound check.

Instruct the patient to return if signs of infection develop (eg, increased pain, swelling, redness, fever, proximally spreading red streaks [infectious lymphangiitis]).

Instruct the patient when to return for skin suture removal, which is generally based on the wound site: 3 to 5 days for the face, 6 to 10 days for the scalp and trunk, 10 to 14 days for the arms and legs, and 14 days for wounds overlying joints. Early suture removal risks wound dehiscence; however, to decrease scarring and cross-hatching of facial sutures, half of the suture line (ie, every other suture) may be removed on day 3 and the remainder are removed on day 5.

Deep dermal sutures do not appear to increase the risk of infection in clean, uncontaminated lacerations. However, animal studies suggest that deep sutures should be avoided in highly contaminated wounds.

Use no more than 3 throws per knot and the fewest number of sutures possible.

Consider deep dermal sutures particularly for children, who are more likely than adults to develop suture marks.

If surface sutures are not used, apply skin tape to correct surface unevenness and to provide more accurate apposition of the epidermis.