07b: Buried Knots

How do you start a buried suture line

Deep to superficial on one side, and then superficial to deep on the other (rainbow)

How do you finish a buried suture line

1 cm from the end of the incision, insert needle from incision line → deep so your suture is deep, and then make your rainbow like the starting knot but leaving a loop deep in the incision to tie to

Which direction should you pull your suture ends for buried knots

Parallel to the incision

Purpose of a SQ closure

• Prevents dead space and seroma formation

• Helps with skin opposition

Purpose of intradermal sutures

Minimizes scarring and avoids suture removal

How does technique for an intradermal suture differ than for a SQ suture

SQ suture usually uses simple continuous (occasionally interrupted) while intradermal uses a horizontal pattern