SUTURE REMOVAL

SUGGESTIONS FOR TIMING OF SUTURE REMOVAL:
Except for facial sutures and its cosmetic concerns, sutures left in a few more days pose little additional risk and are less likely to result in dehisence. A simplified schedule for suture removal is:

 FACIAL WOUNDS 5 DAYS
 ALL WOUNDS NOT INCLUDED IN THE 5-, 15- OR 20-DAY CATEGORIES 10 DAYS
WOUNDS UNDER TENSION; ON THE LOWER EXTREMITIES; IN THE ELDERLY; PATIENTS ON CORTICOSTEROIDS; DIABETES; THOSE AT RISK FOR DELAYED HEALING AT DISTAL SITES 15 DAYS
WOUNDS WITH MULTIPLE RISK FACTORS FOR DEHISCENCE OR SLOW HEALING 20 DAYS

SOURCE
CONSULTANT. PRACTICAL POINTERS. BRADY PREGERSON, MD. APRIL, 2004
WOUNDS AND LACERATIONS. ALEXANDER TROTT, MD.


In areas where wound healing is not as rapid because of vascularity, or in areas prone to mechanical stresses, sutures are left in place for longer periods of time. To further decrease dehiscence, the use of wound tapes over healing lacerations is recommended. The following table is a more comprehensive schedule for removal of percutaneous sutures.

REGION ADULTS CHILDREN
Scalp 6-8 days 5-7 days
Eyelid 3-5 3-5
Ear 4-5 3-5
Nose 3-5 3-5
Lip 4-5 3-5
Forehead / Other parts of face 3-5 3-5
Chest / Abdomen 8-10 6-8
Back 12-14 10-12
Arm 8-10 6-8
Hand 8-10 6-8
Fingertip 10-12 8-10
Joint-extensor surface 10-14 8-10
Joint-flexor surface 8-10 6-8
Lower extremity 8-12 6-10
Foot 10-12 8-10
Penis 7-10 6-8

Source
Wounds and Lacerations: Emergency Care and Closure
Alexander Trott, MD. Mosby Year Book. 1991




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