American Board of Surgical Assistants (ABSA) Certification Practice Exam

The running subcuticular stitch is specifically designed to place sutures just beneath the skin surface, allowing for a hidden closure. This technique involves inserting the needle and suture material within the dermal layer, creating a series of stitches that lay flat against the tissue. As a result, the suture is not visible on the outside of the skin, which helps to minimize scarring and improves the cosmetic outcome of the wound.

This method is particularly advantageous in areas where aesthetic appearance is important, such as on the face or in areas of high visibility. The closure is not only hidden but also offers good wound edge approximation and tension distribution, which contributes to healing.

The other stitching techniques mentioned serve different purposes; for instance, the figure-of-eight stitch generates more tension across the wound edges, which is more visible externally. The simple running stitch is a straightforward technique that may not fully hide the sutures, and two-handed tying refers more to a method of knot tying rather than an actual closure technique.