The type of knot tied will depend on the material, depth and location of the incision, and the amount of stress that will be placed upon the wound post-operatively. Always consider the amount of tension placed upon the incision and allow for post-operative oedema. Suture needles can be classified based on the type of the needle point (Table 2), shape, thickness and type of attachment to the suture. The needle points can be cutting (where there is one or more honed cutting surface), tapered or blunt. The needle can be straight or curved (where the needle is formed in an arc of one-quarter, three-eighths, one-half or five-eighths of a circle). (Figure 1).
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