Everything you always wanted to know (but were afraid to ask) about surgical techniques

EVERYTHING YOU ALWAYS WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT SURGICAL TECHNIQUE

Are any knots stronger than others? Is it incorrect to cross hands or surgical instruments when you make a knot? Is there any way to correct a weak knot?

To answer these questions you must know a vertical combination of half knots, vertical combinations of half hitches, monomanual knotting technique, and bimanual knotting technique.

TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONS

Are any knots stronger than others?

The strongest knots are the sequences: H3H2 (a, s) and H2H2 (a, s) Other safe combinations are“H2” + “H1s”, followed by 2 blocking half hitches or sequences of 5 half hitches with 3 blocking sequences. The weakest combination is H2H1s, even after 1 or 2 additional H1 half knots.

Is it incorrect to cross the hands or needle holders when you make a knot?

It is incorrect if you only use a bimanual technique, but if you use a monomanual knotting technique you always have to cross hands or instruments.

Is there any way to correct a weak knot? If there is any doubt about the quality of the knot, you can make a final sequence: SSb (half hitch-blocking half hitch), but the quality of the knot will not be the same as that of a correct sequence.