US Medical Term · procedures
Sutures
Suturas
Also: Puntos de sutura (regional variant)
In 9 languages
| Language | Term |
|---|---|
| English | Sutures |
| Spanish (Español) | Suturas |
| Chinese (中文) | 縫合術 |
| Korean (한국어) | 봉합술 |
| Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Khâu vết thương |
| Filipino (Tagalog) | Suturas |
| Portuguese (Português) | Sutura |
| Thai (ภาษาไทย) | การเย็บแผล |
| Japanese (日本語) | 縫合 |
What it means
Sutures are stitches used to close a wound or surgical incision by bringing the edges of skin or tissue together so the area can heal properly. A doctor or nurse practitioner uses a needle and thread-like material — which may be absorbable or non-absorbable — to sew the wound closed after cleaning and numbing the area with a local anesthetic. Non-absorbable sutures need to be removed after several days to a few weeks, depending on the wound location and healing progress. Sutures reduce bleeding, lower infection risk, minimize scarring, and support the healing process.
How to say it
Sentences a patient might use with a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or insurer:
The urgent care doctor placed five sutures to close the cut on my arm.
El médico de urgencias me puso cinco puntos de sutura para cerrar el corte en mi brazo.
I need to schedule an appointment to have my sutures removed.
Necesito programar una cita para que me quiten los puntos de sutura.
My discharge summary notes that sutures should be removed in ten days.
Mi resumen de alta indica que los puntos de sutura deben retirarse en diez días.
Where you'll see it
Related terms
Sources
Last reviewed: September 2026