Staples Or Sutures?

Hi Sisters!

Just curious about something....

I'm been reading and responding to many threads and noticed that most mention staples and very few mention sutures. My surgeon did internal suturing so I just have a very thin scar with a little thread hanging out one end (still hanging @ seven weeks although she checked at my six week visit and it seems to want to stay :O). Any idea why so many are stapled versus sutured? Are there any pros/cons that you know about?

essbee,

I also had dissolvable internal stitches and steri strips. Glad that I did not have staples...

My GYN told me I would have the internal stitches and steri strips at my pre-op appt. I had no idea that some surgeons use staples until I was in the hospital. Only two women (counting me) on the GYN surgery floor DID NOT have staples. And then, reading the posts here it seems that most women have staples.

I don't know of any medical pros and cons, but I am very happy with the appearance of my incision. My incision did not drain or bleed, and it has remained closed. I have used vitamin E faithfully twice a day, and the incision looks great. Don't know if the staples leave marks or not, but the idea of staples does not appeal to me.

I got staples. I don't know what the pros and cons are - and comparing it to my neck surgery last year which I had internal stitches and steri strips. I don't see much difference. I had my staples removed yesterday and there appears to be no visual difference, There is just a line across my abdomen now.

Thanks Scout. At my pre-op the surgeon advised of the suturing process (internal dissolving stitches) and after surgery I had those little white tape things. She advised if they didn't fall off in two weeks I was to start removing them. Surprisingly enough I was a lttle nervous about doing that as I was sure they were holding everything together LOL. I decided I would do every other one and if I didn't split open I'd do the others. I had them all off in a week!

I wouldn't have liked staples either and undoubtedly would have been a little freaked having them. My incision healed up quite nicely with no problems whatsoever. Outside of the fact that I had a number of stretch marks (three pregnancy's) and my stomach wasn't too pretty to begin with the new scar doesn't look to bad.

It was quite funny when my doctor told me she'd be doing a bikini incision. I started laughing and told her that after three pregnancy's resulting in a road map of stretch marks a scar was the least of my worries LOL

The biggest difference between sutures and staples is a doctors preference... but there is also a hygenic one as well.....

sutures you can shower with them and no fear of bacteria reaching inside the incision....

staples has a shower restriction until the staples are removed and the steri strips put in place of the staples have fallen off (usually 3 or 4 days after the staples are removed)...bacteria can follow the metal tongs of the staple down into the incision....

ces

<<Any idea why so many are stapled versus sutured? Are there any pros/cons that you know about?>>Yes! First of all, before staples were invented, all incisions were sutured using black nylon. Staples were invented in the 1980s and were quicker for the surgeon to close the incision which translates into shorter anesthesia time (less drugs) for the patient. Aesthetically, a stapled suture-line produces a nice, clean incision post-op (with a few 'dots' where the staples entered the skin' while holding tissues together during healing. Staples are generally removed 7-10 days (unless delayed wound healing or a very active patient). Sutures used on the skin currently for TAH are monofiliment (not braided, more like fishing line) and sew the skin together in a 'side to side' fashion with the 'tails' sticking out on either end. Depending if absorbable or nonabsorbable suture is used, it will either be removed or will dissolve on its own. The third option which the OP (original poster) didn't talk about is that some surgeons are using a surgical glue to hold skin incisions together until they heal. Its a fast-drying glue similar to what we can purchase in a store, but its medical-grade and sterile. Advantages to this last option is that the glue doesn't have to be removed as staples and nonabsorbable suture does, leaves no 'dots' as staples do, and do not require a visit to the doctor's office. I hope I answered your question......... if not, ask away!

Barb

Dear Essbee,
I had staples and tons of stiches both. My Doc removed the staples the day that she dischaged me- 2 days postop! (they don't let you enjoy a nice castle visit anymore) I am now 1 week and 1 day postop. I have a 10" horizontal incision that looks pretty good, considering that they are well covered by Steristrips all the way across. The purpose of the staples is to keep the suture line "approximated" which means close together to minimize scarring especially when you have a lot of swelling in the area at the beginning. The staples and Steri strips do the job after that. Thinking of you, Tammey

I also had dissolvable internal stitches and steri strips. I had glue when I had c-sections in the 80's. The internal stiches and steri strips did best for me.
Rose

My dr used a technique that is actually only 1 stitch that runs along the length of the incision to close it. I have steri strips over that and also dissolvable internal stitches.

When I went back to dr at 1 week post-op he removed the 'stitch' and I never felt a thing. I still have some steri strips and so far my incision just looks like a small line. My dr said that it looked great and if the remaining steri strips started to itch or bother me that I could take them off.

I had staples, but had no shower restrictions at all. I was allowed to shower from the first post op day, my incision wasnt required to be covered with a bandage from that point, and my staples were removed on day 6. Havent had any problems at all.