Based on the preoperative clinical examination, the decision on which donor superficialis (FDS) tendon to use is made (commonly FDS middle finger is used). Transverse incision is made at the level of the distal palmer crease. Care should be taken to avoid the neurovascular bundles and the flexor tendons must…
Category: Surgical Skills
Surgical instruments and surgical techniques
Surgical Skills 
Corner Stitch
Synonym: Half-buried horizontal mattress suture Indications: V, Y or X-pattern laceration repair Risk: Dermal stitch may be placed too close to the tip of the flap and compromise the tenuous blood supply Suture: Non-absorbable Principle: When repairing, this stitch must be placed first Landmark sites (2 on each site of…
Surgical Skills 
Surgical Sutures – Basics
Monofilament Polyfilament Absorbable Caprosyn (Polyglytone 621)Monocryl (Polyglecaprone 25)Biosyn (Polyglecaprone CV-23)Maxon (Polytrimethylate carbon)PDS (Polydiaxonone) CatgutVicryl rapide (Polyglactin 910 rapide)Vicryl (Polyglactin 910)Dexon (Polyglycolic acid) Non-absorbable NylonEthilon (Monofilament polyamide)Prolene (Polypropylene) SilkDacronEthibond (Polyester)Braided nylon (Surgilon, Nurolon)Supramid Monofilament sutures: Polyfilament/Multifilament sutures: Natural sutures: Synthetic sutures: Absorbability: There are 2 principal methods, by which the sutures…
Surgical Skills 
Surgical Blades
One of the oldest surgical instruments used even today is a Scalpel (Surgical Blade with a Bard Parker Handle). Long before using metals in manufacturing, parts from various flora and fauna were used in making incisions during surgeries. Few examples are listed below. Table 1. Various objects used to make incisions. The…
Surgical Skills 
Allgower Donati Suture Technique
Donati’s suture (commonly called as vertical mattress suture) has a far-far-near-near (F-F-N-N) configuration where the far-through stitches seize the subcutaneous tissue and the near-through stitches seize only the dermis. Allgower Donati Suture or Allgower modification of Donati’s suture is a transition between subcuticular suture and Donati’s or vertical mattress suture…
Surgical Skills 
SOP – A Surgical Patient
Most patients have only one operation in their lives and to them, it is of great concern and a Solemn Occasion, though it is just another Appendix/Hernia/TKR to the Surgeon. Being a part of a surgical team is where one shares their knowledge, experience and responsibility with the others. This…
Surgical Skills 
Surgical blade size : Tricks to remember
Surgical blade anatomy Sharp edge: Belly Tip Unsharpened ridge opposite to the edge: Spine Slot for scalpel Surgical blade numbers Here is a trick to know the surgical blades by numbers – a simple image mnemonic which will require your imagination. We will only discuss blades commonly used in our…
Surgical Skills 
Pterygium Excision
Indications for surgery: 1. Reduced vision secondary to: Threatens visual axis: Pterygium advancing toward or already impinging visual axis Induced astigmatism: Due to flattening of meridian of pterygium by fibrosis in atrophic stage 2. Cosmesis 3. Significant discomfort not relieved by medical therapy 4. Diplopia: Resulting from limited ocular motility…