Interior sutures coming through my skin!

At first I thought it was just some white loose skin or something on my incision, but day after day it was getting more clear. It's my interior sutures. They seem to be coming out through my skin! My incision was closed with glue so it's definitely not from that. I guess my dissolvable sutures didn't dissolve. Should I just cut the sutures and pull them out? Has this ever happened to anyone before?

Dana

14 Comments

Removing Sutures

by SMITTY - 2010-04-16 11:04:23

Hi Dana,

I think it is pretty common for the "dissolvable" sutures to not dissolve completely and some having to be pulled out. It happened to me on my last pacemaker and it has happened on previous surgeries I have had. However, I have never had to cut one to get it out. I would have little very stiff threads sticking out and catching on everything. I could take tweezers and pull out the pieces.

I would be reluctant to cut one. If that is the only way you can get them out I suggest that you give the Dr a call for an opinion on the cutting. My thought is that if you have to cut a suture get it out it must still be in there as a loop which says getting it out you would be dragging a cut end through the area below the surface. I can see that as possibly increasing the risk of getting an infection.

Good luck,

Smitty

snip

by Tracey_E - 2010-04-17 07:04:10

It's common! Call your dr to see what they want you to do but I was told to snip it as close to the skin as I could, put bacitracin on and cover with a bandaid for a day, call them back if it stayed red or looked at all odd. I was told not to pull it.

Thanks again all.

by DanaT - 2010-04-17 07:04:32

It's just so weird. It's not just little pieces, it's like a tangled knot of thread! It's strange how it just comes through like that.

Hi,

by Gellia2 - 2010-04-17 09:04:51

Yup! Like all said, it's pretty common and called "spitting silks". Guess it would have to be common if they even have a name for it! LOL

I always trimmed my even with the skin and it seems like I always have one or two poking up after replacements, esp. near the ends of the incision.

Like the others said,...a little snip and some antibiotic ointment and watch to make sure it doesn't get red, is usually all that is needed.

Best to you,
Gellia

Thanks

by DanaT - 2010-04-17 09:04:56

Thanks guys. Geeze, the thought of infection never even entered my mind! Glad I asked. I'm relieved to hear that it's common. I'll call my doctor on Monday too.

BEEN THERE

by francine1 - 2010-04-17 10:04:13

I too just went through the same.Mine was out towards the shoulder. It was catching on all of my clothes,including my scrubs,causing constant irritation. It finally left me 8 weeks post surgery. I had also had a drainage sight from the very beginning and allergic reaction to the adhesive in the steri strips & bandaids. Keep using the Neosporin. If it doesn't come out in a reasonable amount of time call the Dr's office! Good Luck!

stitches sticking out....

by Pookie - 2010-04-17 10:04:26

I just had my throat surgery 3 weeks ago and last week I noticed that on one end of the incision there was a little knot and part of the dissolvable stitch sticking out - I took my tweezers and gave it a gentle pull....out it came, about 1/4 of an inch long. (kind of grossed me out and my legs went like jello)

I told the surgeon what I had done at my follow up appt. and he didn't blink an eye.

But really, looking back, I don't think I should have done it - I should have waited the 2 days and let the surgeon do it.

Pookie

stitches

by LS - 2010-04-17 10:04:44

I had one that had popped through also. It was so annoying with it rubbing!
Finally it just disapeared! LOL
Liz

PS
Renee, maybe her question could/can be answered by the kind folks here. Not sure how your cardioligist is, but I wouldn't call mine over my stitch when it came through.

stitch

by aldeer - 2010-04-17 11:04:06

I had a tiny thread like white spot showing up on bottom of scar. At first concerned because it seemed to get longer, and then on one day brushed my finger across it, and it just disappeared...too tiny to find!....just a tiny stitch that "wanted out of there"... :)

Not a problem

by heartu - 2010-04-17 12:04:10

I've had other minor surgeries before with that pesky little suture peeking out. My doctor at the time just pulled it right out. I wouldn't do it myself mind you.

Funny thing is, I stll have a lot of surgical glue over the incision that is slowly coming off. ( 7 1/2 weeks). Did he use the whole container? With that much glue there was no way that incision would open.

sutures

by sam78 - 2010-04-17 12:04:16

Well I guess I disagree with some.. but I will tell you this.. I JUST TODAY had to call my surgeon because I have a WHITE stitch coming from my incision of port a cath (IV implanted under the skin just like the pacemaker is, on the opposite side of my chest). My answer--- I was told to cut it at the level of my skin.

No matter what you do.. you need to do it soon.. as things sticking out of incisions (no matter what it is) provides a route for infection.

Me too

by ElectricFrank - 2010-04-18 01:04:36

I just grabbed the ends with a tweezer and pulled in out. I mentioned it to the cardiologist last week at my checkup. His response was "pull them out yourself if you are comfortable or stop by have the nurse do it"

He was kind of vague what they were. It was about a month after the replacement when this happened. I suddenly started having some irritation when my shirt rubbed against the incision site. Since it had been several weeks since I had had any pain with it I looked real close and sure nuff there were those stitches.

frank

hi

by pacergirl - 2010-04-18 10:04:47

Yes, I have been dealing with this exact problem. I just trim the ends off and sure enough more came out. Today, it looks good, no hanging threads. I am not so pleased with the scar but hey, can't have everything. It isn't as bad as it once was so I am not getting so upset about it anymore.

Good luck,
pg

yes sutures emerging after time

by allie - 2014-08-26 06:08:11

It helps to know others have had similar experiences...in 2002 I had a deep cyst removed from my chest...absorbable suture called vicryl (may have the i & y reversed)...two years after operation the general area around the healed incision started itching...then the skin became irritated & red & raised in a specific spot. It had the feeling something was surfacing my body wanted OUT! So naturally, I scratched it. The skin broke open easily but only lymph emerged. The surface healed over again and again until finally a small piece of suture was released at which point the point of eruption bled freely briefly & then healed...leaving a small white scar. I spoke of this process in such detail because it continued for the next eight years ...happening every couple of months...In 2010 I had back surgery & despite requesting a different suture...vycril was used again...it began to emerge 2012. In 2013 I had a total hip replacement. Perfect procedure...perfect closure & healing...13 months later different type of suture material have done the same thing. Maybe it's a combination of material used & an individual's sensitivity. Danger of infection isprobably should be a concern.

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