Suture related problems

I use a synthetic (man-made) monofilament suture (smooth, single-strand, like a fishing line, some are clear, and some are dark greenish-blue). This kind of suture material dissolves over time by the action of enzymes in the tissues. The problem with these sutures is that they lose strength fairly quickly, yet take a long time to be completely removed from the body. Unfortunately, there is no suture material that provides strength for six weeks, and then instantly disappears.

Suture material can cause reactions long after it is done holding things together. These can cause superficial problems manifested by:

• red bumps
• areas of drainage
• areas of bleeding
• thickening of the scar
• small wound separations

In patients with pilonidal disease this can cause a lot of anxiety, as it can easily be confused with recurrence of the pilonidal disease itself. I encourage patients to send me photos of any areas of concern so I can tell them the cause of the visible change. Patients with pre-existing autoimmune diseases (especially those with hiadradenitis suppuritiva) seem to be prone to having reactions to these sutures. Patients who had a contaminated or infected wound are also prone to these problems, some of which are related to bacteria attaching to the suture material and then causing problems later.

These suture-related problems are always self-limiting (if it is in an area away from the midline) – because the suture material eventually dissolves. If there is an area of drainage, it is OK to clean it with peroxide and put a dry dressing on it. If the area is down near the anus, putting a piece of gauze between the cheeks, as you may have done initially post-op, is a good idea until it stops draining.

Below are a few photos of what this can look like. These patients went on to heal without any kind of surgical intervention. Typically, I recommend Vitamin C Serum or Skinuva Scar Treatment (also available on Amzaon) to treat these.