ABSTRACT
There is a tendency for individuals who want to become physicians to ignore the skill of suturing in the belief that it is unnecessary, while the budding surgeons take time to hone their skills. Suturing is an important skill to learn, particularly when the medical students start work as a junior doctor. Many wounds will require a few sutures under local anaesthetic in the Accident and Emergency department. Enter the station and read the instructions carefully. It is likely that the medical students will be asked to demonstrate simple, interrupted sutures on a small wound. Explain to the examiner that the medical students would normally undertake a regional neurovascular examination before suturing a wound, to establish the extent of damage. It is useful to have an assistant present when suturing. When suturing, it is important to get good apposition of the wound edges and to ensure that the suturing is symmetrical.
