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Posted: 6/22/2011 5:08:16 AM EDT
Is it normal for dissolving sutures to push their way out of a wound?

I chopped my leg about three weeks back, got 4 dissolving sutures and 9 non-dissolving.  The 9 came out last week, the 4 of course stayed in.  The wound seems to have healed in a mostly unremarkable fashion.  Yay western medicine.

Over the last few days though, I've noticed a few little tags of what look like fishing line peeking out of the wound.  I'm guessing they're either the free ends or the remnants of the dissolving sutures, but I'm not sure if I should trim 'em, pull 'em out, or leave 'em be.  I don't have a camera that'll macro down small enough to really show it, so picture a pretty standard scabbed over incision with about 2mm of thin white/clear "fishing line" peekin out.  It's kind of annoying when it catches, but no pain.

Advice?  Mockery?  Anecdotes?
Link Posted: 6/22/2011 5:08:57 AM EDT
[#1]
Brundlefly?
Link Posted: 6/22/2011 5:11:40 AM EDT
[#2]
Quoted:
Brundlefly?


Is it maggot popping time?!  I LOVE MAGGOT POPPING TIME!!!

Link Posted: 6/22/2011 5:12:30 AM EDT
[#3]
I am not a doctor.

When my wisdom teeth were removed, they use disolving sutures. After a few days/week or so, they started to disolve, just as you described. I got a tweezers, and gently tugged at them. They were very loose, and came right out. If there was any friction, I would have left them in.
Link Posted: 6/22/2011 5:13:12 AM EDT
[#4]
My dog had that happen after she was spayed, IIRC the chunks of line worked their way out of the skin completely after a few days of licking, can you lick your leg?

Kharn

Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile
Link Posted: 6/22/2011 5:13:44 AM EDT
[#5]
Just clip any loops and pull the sutures out.

Link Posted: 6/22/2011 5:19:32 AM EDT
[#6]
Link Posted: 6/22/2011 5:23:54 AM EDT
[#7]
Quoted:
My dog had that happen after she was spayed, IIRC the chunks of line worked their way out of the skin completely after a few days of licking, can you lick your leg?

Kharn

Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile


Yessir, on it!


Quoted:
Just clip any loops and pull the sutures out.



The loops are buried.  I guess that's my real worry, whether or not they're still attached in there.  I don't know if the doc trimmed the free ends back.
Link Posted: 6/22/2011 5:24:55 AM EDT
[#8]
Quoted:
We call that "spitting a stitch."

Tug on the end gently with some tweezers, and see if it comes out easily.  If it doesn't, just get some scissors or nail clippers and cut it off flush.

Common thing post-surgery, or post-suturing.


Thank you sir, I'll do that.  Much obliged.  
Link Posted: 6/22/2011 5:32:47 AM EDT
[#9]
Fairly commom. I have two examples.

1. Arthrscopic knee surgery in '93....around six months after the surgery i noticed some "fishing line" near the incision site. I pulled out a quarter inch long suture with a small knot on the end. Did not feel a thing.

2. Vasectomy in '09 ..... one year after the surgery I developed a granuloma. Doc said it would take care of itself. It did not. One day I noticed a small hole and minor seepage from the incision site. I squeezed and a small black thread was visible. I used a pin to "fish" it out.......I pulled out a loop.....it hurt .......I pulled some more and half inch sized birds nest of thread came out with alot of fluid......it hurt but was a relief......I called it my third nut and I had carried that thing around for a year with out it disentegrating.....

My advice would be to pull it out.
Link Posted: 6/22/2011 5:40:33 AM EDT
[#10]



No biggie –––––––––––––––––– you do gots a 90 degree grinder...?


...!





Link Posted: 6/22/2011 7:18:20 AM EDT
[#11]
dibs on guns
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