References

Coloplast. Wound healing: the four stages of wound healing. 2023. https//tinyurl.com/jc8h4fev (accessed 15 April 2024)

Clinical nursing skills: at a glance. In: Curr S, Fordham-Clarke C (eds). : Wiley; 2022

Ford C Adult pain assessment and management. Br J Nurs. 2019; 28:(7)421-423 https://doi.org/10.12968/bjon.2019.28.7.421

Ford C, Park LJ Hand hygiene and handwashing: key to preventing the transfer of pathogens. Br J Nurs. 2018; 27:(20)1164-1166 https://doi.org/10.12968/bjon.2018.27.20.1164

Ford C, J, Park L How to apply and remove medical gloves. Br J Nurs. 2019; 28:(1)26-28 https://doi.org/10.12968/bjon.2019.28.1.26

Ghosh S, More N, Kapusetti G Surgical staples: current state-of-the-art and future prospective. Medicine in Novel Technology and Devices. 2022; 16 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.medntd.2022.100166

Greaves NS, Ashcroft KJ, Baguneid M, Bayat A Current understanding of molecular and cellular mechanisms in fibroplasia and angiogenesis during acute wound healing. J Dermatol Sci. 2013; 72:(3)206-217 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jdermsci.2013.07.008

Hegarty J, Howson V, Wills T Acute surgical wound-dressing procedure: Description of the steps involved in the development and validation of an observational metric. Int Wound J. 2019; 16:(3)641-648 https://doi.org/10.1111/iwj.13072

Horgan S, Saab MM, Drennan J, Keane D, Hegarty J Healthcare professionals' knowledge and attitudes of surgical site infection and surveillance: A narrative systematic review. Nurse Educ Pract. 2023; 69 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nepr.2023.103637

The Royal Marsden manual of clinical nursing procedures, 10th edn. In: Lister SE, Hofland J, Grafton H, Wilson C (eds). : Wiley-Blackwell; 2021

Mitchell A Assessment of wounds in adults. Br J Nurs. 2020; 29:(20)S18-S24 https://doi.org/10.12968/bjon.2020.29.20.S18

Mitchell A Principles of wound care, 5th edn. In: Neale N, Sale J (eds). : Routledge; 2022

Mitchell A, Llumigusin D The assessment and management of hypergranulation. Br J Nurs. 2021; 30:(5)S6-S10 https://doi.org/10.12968/bjon.2021.30.5.S6

Getting to know granulation tissue and what it means for wound care (blog). 2021. https//www.woundsource.com/blog/getting-know-granulation-tissue-and-what-it-means-wound-care (accessed 12 April 2024)

Oliveira AC, Lima ED, Lima Ade P Post-discharge surgical site infection surveillance in a hospital in Brazil. Am J Surg. 2007; 193:(2)266-8 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjsurg.2006.05.016

Peate I, Stephens M Wound care at a glance, 2nd edn. : Wiley-Blackwell; 2020

Stryja J, Sandy-Hodgetts K, Collier M Surgical site infection: prevention and management across health-care sectors. J Wound Care. 2020; 29:S1-S72 https://doi.org/10.12968/jowc.2020.29.Sup2b.S1

Thomas RK Practical medical procedures at a glance.: Wiley-Blackwell; 2015

Wound healing phases. 2023. https//www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470443 (accessed 12 April 2024)

World Health Organization. Global guidelines on the prevention of surgical site infection. 2018. https//www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241550475 (accessed 12 April 2024)

Clinical Skills
Theatre nursing

A guide to removing surgical staples

18 April 2024
Clinical
02 April 2024
Volume 33 · Issue 8

Abstract

This article provides a comprehensive overview of the wound healing process, emphasising the critical role of surgical staples in primary intention healing. It outlines the four distinct phases of wound healing including haemostasis, inflammation, proliferation, and maturation – and discusses the mechanisms by which surgical staples enhance this natural biological process. Special focus is given to the aseptic non-touch technique (ANTT), which is crucial in preventing infections during the staple removal procedure. The article further explores the procedural steps involved in the removal of surgical staples and highlights the holistic aspects of patient care that need to be considered. This includes strategies for effective pain management, ensuring informed consent, and maintaining a sterile environment. By integrating clinical skills with a thorough understanding of wound care, this article aims to improve nursing practices in surgical settings, promoting better patient outcomes and recovery.

Wound healing is the process by which the body replaces and restores damaged tissue (Greaves et al, 2013) and enhanced mechanisms such as regeneration and tissue repair are initiated to help the healing process. It is a normal biological process that follows precisely programmed and highly regulated phases (Wallace et al, 2023). Wound healing is generally described as having four distinct phases: homeostasis, the defensive and inflammatory phase, the proliferative phase, and finally the maturation phase (Peate and Stephens, 2020). These phases are collectively referred to as the healing cascade and work together to promote the healing of wounds (Figure 1). For a wound to heal effectively all four phases must occur in the proper sequence and time frame (Coloplast, 2023). However, as the healing process involves a complex interaction of physical, chemical and cellular events, a multitude of factors can interfere with one or more phases of the process, leading to improper or impaired wound healing.

Register now to continue reading

Thank you for visiting British Journal of Nursing and reading some of our peer-reviewed resources for nurses. To read more, please register today. You’ll enjoy the following great benefits:

What's included

  • Limited access to clinical or professional articles

  • Unlimited access to the latest news, blogs and video content

Register
Or continue by

Signing in with your registered email address

Clinical skills
Wound care
Surgical staples
Nursing education