What it means
Surgical thread sewn through tissue to close a cut or incision while it heals. Absorbable sutures dissolve on their own and are used inside the body; nonabsorbable ones stay until they are removed, usually after 7 to 14 days depending on where they are. As a verb, to suture means to stitch. In anatomy, a suture is also the joint where the bones of the skull meet.
For the nurse
Check the suture line for redness, swelling, drainage, warmth and gaps between the wound edges, and report signs of infection or a wound opening. Teach the client how to keep the area clean and when the sutures will come out.
In a chart
"Laceration closed with 6 sutures; edges well approximated, no drainage."
At a glance
| Spanish | sutura |
|---|---|
| Also written | sutures, sutured |
Related terms
postoperative
Describing the time after surgery, from the end of the operation until recovery.
laceration
A cut or tear in the skin or other tissue, often with jagged edges.