SUGGESTIONS FOR TIMING OF SUTURE REMOVAL:
Except for facial sutures and its cosmetic concerns, sutures left
in a few more days pose little additional risk and are less likely
to result in dehisence. A simplified schedule for suture removal
is:
FACIAL WOUNDS | 5 DAYS |
ALL WOUNDS NOT INCLUDED IN THE 5-, 15- OR 20-DAY CATEGORIES | 10 DAYS |
WOUNDS UNDER TENSION; ON THE LOWER EXTREMITIES; IN THE ELDERLY; PATIENTS ON CORTICOSTEROIDS; DIABETES; THOSE AT RISK FOR DELAYED HEALING AT DISTAL SITES | 15 DAYS |
WOUNDS WITH MULTIPLE RISK FACTORS FOR DEHISCENCE OR SLOW HEALING | 20 DAYS |
In areas where wound healing is not as rapid because of vascularity, or in areas prone to mechanical stresses, sutures are left in place for longer periods of time. To further decrease dehiscence, the use of wound tapes over healing lacerations is recommended. The following table is a more comprehensive schedule for removal of percutaneous sutures.
REGION | ADULTS | CHILDREN |
Scalp | 6-8 days | 5-7 days |
Eyelid | 3-5 | 3-5 |
Ear | 4-5 | 3-5 |
Nose | 3-5 | 3-5 |
Lip | 4-5 | 3-5 |
Forehead / Other parts of face | 3-5 | 3-5 |
Chest / Abdomen | 8-10 | 6-8 |
Back | 12-14 | 10-12 |
Arm | 8-10 | 6-8 |
Hand | 8-10 | 6-8 |
Fingertip | 10-12 | 8-10 |
Joint-extensor surface | 10-14 | 8-10 |
Joint-flexor surface | 8-10 | 6-8 |
Lower extremity | 8-12 | 6-10 |
Foot | 10-12 | 8-10 |
Penis | 7-10 | 6-8 |