Principles and techniques of primary wound closure

Proper closure of most wounds will negate the need for later scar revision. The goals of wound closure in the primary care setting are to stop bleeding, prevent infection, speed healing, and preserve the appearance and function of the injured area. The physician must evaluate each wound separately and use those techniques of wound closure that will provide the best results. In this article, the goals, principles, and some of the techniques of wound closure, including types of debridement, undermining, and closure in layers, are discussed. Different types of stitches and closure of difficult lacerations are also discussed.