Suture Removal
Staples and sutures are used to hold a surgical site or other wound closed, to facilitate healing. One important step in patient recovery is the removal of such sutures at the specific time, typically when the wound is healed completely, so as to avoid inflammation, scarring and other complications. This is mainly required in the case of non-absorbable sutures.
Typically suture removal is done within a few days of discharge from a hospital.
Typical durations are:
- Face: 3-4 days
- Neck: 5 days
- Scalp: 6-7 days
- Arms and back of hands: 7 days
- Chest and abdomen: 7-10 days
- Legs and top of feet: 10 days
- Back: 10-12 days
- Palms of hands and soles of feet: 14 days
Suture removal can be done at home by one of our experienced nurses. This can help to reduce anxiety in patients and is ideal for patients with reduced mobility.
Suture removal typically includes the following steps:
- Interact with the patient to make him/her feel comfortable.
- Assessment of wound healing.
- Removal of stitches using sterile instruments and removal of staples with staple removers.
- Explanation of post stitch removal care plan.
In case of large number of sutures or infected suture/incision lines the team would also recommend dressing or admission depending on the need.