Wound Suturing at Parkhealth Medical Centres in Cape Town

Doctors use sutures to close wounds on your skin or other soft tissues, allowing them to heal properly. This is done by use of a needle and “thread”. The type of thread used will depend on the area being stitched closed as well as the type of wound.

Types of Sutures

Absorbable

These are sutures do not need to be removed by your doctor as they are naturally dissolved by the enzymes found in your body’s tissues.

Nonabsorbable

These will need to be removed by your doctor or another healthcare professional at a later stage once the wound has healed. In some cases, sutures may be left in permanently, but this is mostly for internal wounds.

Wound Suturing Cape Town

Our doctors are trained to suture minor wounds on site. If you are not sure whether your wound need stitching, below are some guidelines to follow:

You will likely need stitches if your wound is:

• Deeper or longer than 1cm
• So deep that muscle, fatty tissue, or bone is exposed
• Gaping and/or wide
• Bleeding non-stop even through bandages and after applying pressure for 10 minutes

Wounds that pose a high risk for infection must be closed within 6 hours of the injury. Wounds with less risk of infection may be treated between 12 and 24 hours of the injury.

Our doctors are trained for wound suturing and can advise you on whether or not you will need stitches. As a general rule, we encourage patients to rather enquire about their wound than to assume it doesn’t need stitches.

Contact us to find out more.

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