Stainless Steel Suture Technique

Published Date: 19th July 2016

Publication Authors: Shokrollahi K, Sofos S

Proflavine wool with silk ‘tie-overs’ is used commonly to secure a skin graft. Our new strategy employs a surgical steel wire suture that can be twisted down to secure the graft without the need for multiple ties. Figure 1A shows the graft over the defect, and Figures 1B and 1C show the steel sutures used as simple loops at the graft edges. Six loops are adequate; they are collected in the centre and twisted (Fig 1D). This offers a much quicker tie-over dressing with evenly distributed downward pressure. Each packet of stainless steel suture includes one curved and two straight needles (Fig 1E). Stainless steel sutures are known to be safe and are used in a number of other contexts. Figure 1F shows the patient at 5 days following surgery.

Shokrollahi, K and Sofos, S. (2013).  Twist-over: stainless steel suture technique for skin graft applications . Annals of The Royal College of Surgeons of England,. 95 (6), 437

 

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