Introduction to Needle Holders
The needle holder is an instrument primarily used to perform suturing. Needle holders serve two important functions:
- To hold and push the needle, with its attached suture, through tissues
- To assist in tying knots in the suture
The jaws of needle holders are traumatic; therefore, needle holders should never be used to handle tissue. Similarly, needle holders should not be used to clamp a suture that the surgeon intends to include in a stitch, as this greatly weakens the suture strand.
General surgeons spend more time using needle holders than just about any other surgical instrument. Suturing with a needle holder is a succession of maneuvers with inherent opportunities to be either time-inefficient or time-efficient with each step. It is very important to learn how to use needle holders properly, since inefficient use accounts for more time lost in surgery than poor technique with other instruments.
In this module, we will examine the types of needle holders available, how to grip a needle holder, and how to properly use needle holders to stitch in an effective and time-efficient manner.