title: Suture Products and Techniques: What to Use, Where, and Why.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There are an increasing number of wound closure materials and suturing techniques described in the dermatologic and surgery literature. A dermatologic surgeon's familiarity with these materials and techniques is important to supplement his or her already established practices and improve surgical outcomes.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To perform a thorough literature review of wound closure materials (sutures, tissue adhesives, surgical tape, and staples) and suturing techniques and to outline how and when to use them.
  
  
  METHODS
  A literature review was conducted using PubMed and other online search engines. Keywords searched included suture, tissue adhesive, tissue glue, surgical tape, staples, dermatologic suturing, and suturing techniques.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Numerous articles outline the utility of various sutures, surgical adhesives, surgical tape, and staples in dermatologic surgery. In addition, there are various articles describing classic and novel suturing techniques along with their specific uses in cutaneous surgery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Numerous factors must be considered when choosing a wound closure material and suturing technique. These include wound tension, desire for wound edge eversion/inversion, desired hemostasis, repair type, patient's ability to care for the wound and return for suture removal, skin integrity, and wound location. Careful consideration of these factors and proper execution of suturing techniques can lead to excellent cosmetic results.
authors.affiliation: *Vujevich Dermatology Associates, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; †Yag-Howard Dermatology Center, Naples, Florida; ‡Volunteer Clinical Faculty, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida.
authors.forename: Christie G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Regula
authors.forename: Cyndi
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yag-Howard
mesh_terms: D001458:Bandages; D062109:Dermatologic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012307:Risk Factors; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D017792:Surgical Stapling / Q000295:instrumentation; D053832:Surgical Tape; D013536:Suture Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation; D014014:Tissue Adhesives; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014945:Wound Healing
chemical_list: D014014:Tissue Adhesives