Suture Techniques and Cosmetic Outcomes in Surgical Wound Closure
Summary
Surgical wound closure techniques have evolved to balance efficient healing with optimal cosmetic results. Traditional methods such as interrupted and continuous sutures focus on reliable edge approximation, while innovations in subcuticular and tension-relieving techniques aim to minimise scar width and visibility. The choice of suture material—absorbable versus nonabsorbable—alongside emerging barbed and adhesive systems, can influence patient comfort, postoperative care and aesthetic satisfaction. Objective scar assessment scales guide evaluation of edge eversion, pigmentation and relief, informing refinements in suture placement and material selection. These advances hold global significance in fields ranging from dermatological excisions to orthopaedic and plastic surgery, offering practical benefits such as reduced clinic visits, lower costs and improved patient-reported outcomes.
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Suture Techniques and Cosmetic Outcomes in Surgical Wound Closure publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in suture techniques and cosmetic outcomes in surgical wound closure across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Barbed suture: A filament with angled projections that anchor in tissue, eliminating the need for knots and distributing tension evenly.
Subcuticular suture: A continuous stitch placed within the dermal layer to approximate skin edges and minimise surface punctures.
Tension-relieving suture: A technique designed to offload mechanical stress from wound edges and reduce scar widening and hypertrophy.
Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale (POSAS): A validated tool combining patient and clinician ratings of scar characteristics such as colour, thickness and relief.
Absorbable suture: A material that undergoes hydrolysis or enzyme-mediated degradation over time, obviating the need for removal.
References
- Using Zhang’s supertension-relieving suture technique with slowly-absorbable barbed sutures in the management of pathological scars: a multicenter retrospective study. Burns & Trauma (2023).
- Split‐level folding, step‐type tension‐relieving suture technique, and the evaluation on scar minimization. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology (2024).
- Absorbable versus Nonabsorbable Sutures for Facial Skin Closure: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Clinical and Aesthetic Outcomes. Archives of Plastic Surgery (2024).
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