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Article: Stitches and Staples
- Article from:
- Gale Encyclopedia of Surgery: A Guide for Patients andCaregivers
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2004 The Gale Group Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Stitches and staples
Definition
Stitches and staples are two methods by which a wound may be closed. Stitches use specialized needles and thread to "sew" a wound closed. Staples are thin pieces of metal that are placed with a stapling device through the edges of a wound to hold it closed.
Description
Wounds to the skin, fat, muscle, blood vessels, and other structures in the body may occur accidentally (as in a cut) or purposefully (as in a surgical incision). A number of different methods exist to close a wound; the method selected depends on the type of injury, the type of tissue injured, the location and depth of the injury, and the patient's health. Stitches and staples are ...