What is wound closure?
Wounds heal more quickly and with less risk of infection and scarring when the wound is cleaned and the wound edges are held together (closed). Scrapes, scratches, puncture wounds, and shallow cuts may need only cleaning, ointment, and a bandage. Some cuts may need to be closed with tape strips called Steri-Strips or tissue adhesive spray (skin glue). If a cut or surgical incision is deep, very long, jagged, or under a lot of tension (such as a cut over a joint), stitches (also called sutures) or staples may be needed to close the wound.
