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Letter
Needle handling should be avoided while suturing
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  1. R E McLaughlin
  1. Emergency Department, Ulster Hospital, Belfast BT16 1RH, UK; remclaughlintinyworld.co.uk

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      I read the instructive and informative article by Gandham and Menon. However, I was concerned to note that in figure 1 the suture needle appears to be held by the thumb and index finger of the operator. Needle handling has been linked to glove perforation that can be significantly reduced if the suture needle is held only with instruments.2 This forms a key part of a non-touch suture technique as taught on the Basic Surgical Skills course.3 Do the authors feel that needle handling is a low risk practice?

      References

      1. Gandham S , Menon D. Prospective randomised trial comparing traditional suture technique with the dynamic sliding loop suture technique in the closure of skin laceration. Emerg Med J2003;20:33–6.
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      2. ↵
        McAdam T , McLaughlin R, McNicholl B. The influence of the BSS course on needlestick injuries. Ann R Coll Surg Engl2002;84 (suppl) :310–11.
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      3. ↵
        The Royal College of Surgeons of England. Basic surgical skills: participant handbook. 1st ed. London: Royal College of Surgeons of England, 1996:12.