Fine tuning of the skin edges in the closure of surgical wounds. Controlling inversion and eversion with the path of the needle--the right stitch at the right time.

A primary objective in closure of surgical wounds is accurate apposition of epithelial edges in a manner that will return the tissues to as near normal a condition as possible. This article describes types of suture techniques that enable the surgeon to control the tendency of wound edges to either invert or evert. Accurate approximations and esthetically pleasing results are reached by using the appropriate pass of the needle and path of the suture to control tendencies to inversion and eversion.