Download Article
Download Article
Surgical staples are used to close surgical incisions or wounds that have fairly straight edges. The amount of time staples are kept in varies with the wound and healing rate of the patient. Staples are usually removed at a doctor's office or hospital. This article will give you an overview of how doctors remove surgical staples. [1] X Trustworthy Source Cleveland Clinic Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals Go to source
Steps
-
Cleanse the wound. Depending on the condition of the healed incision, use sterile saline solution , an antiseptic such as alcohol, or sterile swabs to remove any debris or dried fluids from the wound. [2] X Trustworthy Source MedlinePlus Collection of medical information sourced from the US National Library of Medicine Go to source -
Slide the lower part of a staple remover under the middle of the staple. Begin at one end of the healed incision. [3] X Research source- This is a specialized tool doctors use to take out surgical staples.
- The lower part of the stapler usually has 2 teeth and is flatter than the upper part, which moves.
Advertisement -
Squeeze the handles of the staple remover until they are completely closed. The upper part of the staple remover will push down the middle of the staple, causing the staple ends to pull out of the incision. [4] X Research source -
Take out the staple by releasing the pressure on the handles. When the staples are removed, drop them into a disposable container or bag. [5] X Research source- Pull out the medical staple in the same direction it went in to avoid tearing your skin.
- You might feel a slight pinch, sting, or tugging sensation. This is normal. [6] X Research source
Gain confidence to care for yourself.
"As a single dad, I was so anxious about my son's staples with no insurance. But the clear visual steps in this article helped me understand the process to remove them myself. Now, I feel capable of handling small medical stuff that comes up. It's empowering to take care of my boy's needs rather than avoid treatment due to money."
- Dawn M.
Enable at-home care when unable to travel.
"Recovering from major back surgery left me housebound and unable to drive to appointments. With my home health nurse's assistance and this article breaking down the staple removal process, I safely took out my own staples. Being able to heal at home rather than attempt an agonizing car ride was such a relief."
- Anita F.
Use proper technique to prevent scarring.
"I was nervous about messing up and ripping my skin when taking out my staples. But thanks to the detailed instructions and illustrations here, I carefully pinched each staple middle and pulled it straight out. Now, I'm healing beautifully with minimal scarring."
- Billy M.
Trust your doctor for the best recovery.
"This article reinforced that I should fully trust my doctor for the best possible wound healing. As tempting as tackling staple removal myself was to save money, compromising care right now could seriously affect this long recovery. I'll lean on my care team rather than risk it."
- Latricia R.
Did you know that wikiHow has collected over 365,000 reader stories since it started in 2005? We’d love to hear from you! Share your story here
.
-
Use the staple remover to remove all the other staples. [7] X Research source- When the end of the incision is reached, inspect the area again to check for any staples that may have been missed. This will help to prevent future skin irritation and infection.
-
Cleanse the wound with antiseptic again. [8] X Research source -
Apply a dry dressing or bandage if needed. The type of covering applied depends on how well the wound has healed. [9] X Trustworthy Source MedlinePlus Collection of medical information sourced from the US National Library of Medicine Go to source- Use a butterfly bandage or Steri-Strip if there is still skin separation. This will provide support and help to prevent the formation of a larger scar.
- Use a light gauze dressing to prevent irritation. This will act as a buffer between the affected area and your clothing.
- Expose the healing incision to the air, if possible. Make sure not to cover the affected area with clothing, to avoid irritation.
-
Watch for signs of infection. The redness around the closed incision should fade over a few weeks. Follow your doctor's advice on wound care, and be aware of the following signs of infection: [10] X Trustworthy Source Johns Hopkins Medicine Official resource database of the world-leading Johns Hopkins Hospital Go to source- Redness and irritation around the affected area.
- Affected area is hot to the touch.
- Increased pain.
- Yellow or green discharge.
- Fever.
Advertisement
Expert Q&A
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
Advertisement
Video
Tips
- Follow your doctor's instructions on caring for your wound and scheduling return visits. [11] X Trustworthy Source Cleveland Clinic Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals Go to sourceThanks
Submit a Tip
All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
Name
Please provide your name and last initial
Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
Advertisement
Warnings
- Go to a licensed medical professional to get your staples removed. Do not try to remove staples by yourself. Attempting to do so can cause further injury or infection. [12] X Research sourceThanks
Advertisement
Things You'll Need
- Antiseptic
- Staple removal tool
- Surgical gloves
- Adhesive strips
- Antibiotic ointment and sterile bandage
References
- ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/15709-incision-care
- ↑ https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000040.htm
- ↑ https://medscope.umaryland.edu/apps/Interactive%20Dissector/Clinical_Procedures/ClinicalProcedure_Stapling.html
- ↑ https://medscope.umaryland.edu/apps/Interactive%20Dissector/Clinical_Procedures/ClinicalProcedure_Stapling.html
- ↑ https://clpweb.utmb.edu/StudyMaterial/1591.pdf
- ↑ https://myhealth.alberta.ca/Health/aftercareinformation/pages/conditions.aspx?hwid=abq6115
- ↑ https://myhealth.alberta.ca/Health/aftercareinformation/pages/conditions.aspx?hwid=abq6115
- ↑ https://clpweb.utmb.edu/StudyMaterial/1591.pdf
- ↑ https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000315.htm
About This Article
Article Summary
X
To remove surgical staples, start by cleaning the area with saline, alcohol, or sterile swabs to remove any debris and dried fluids. Then, starting at one end of the healed incision, slide the lower part of a medical staple remover under the middle of the staple. Next, squeeze the handles of the staple opener, and then release them to lift out the staple. Finally, repeat the process with the rest of the staples, and clean the area with an antiseptic again. For more advice from our Medical co-author, like how to monitor for signs of infection after removing surgical staples, scroll down!
Did this summary help you?
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 674,164 times.
Reader Success Stories
- "As a single dad, I was so anxious about my son's staples with no insurance. But the clear visual steps in this article helped me understand the process to remove them myself. Now, I feel capable of handling small medical stuff that comes up. It's empowering to take care of my boy's needs rather than avoid treatment due to money." ..." more
Advertisement
"As a single dad, I was so anxious about my son's staples with no insurance. But the clear visual steps in this article helped me understand the process to remove them myself. Now, I feel capable of handling small medical stuff that comes up. It's empowering to take care of my boy's needs rather than avoid treatment due to money."
..."
more
"Recovering from major back surgery left me housebound and unable to drive to appointments. With my home health nurse's assistance and this article breaking down the staple removal process, I safely took out my own staples. Being able to heal at home rather than attempt an agonizing car ride was such a relief."
..."
more
"This article reinforced that I should fully trust my doctor for the best possible wound healing. As tempting as tackling staple removal myself was to save money, compromising care right now could seriously affect this long recovery. I'll lean on my care team rather than risk it."
..."
more
"I was nervous about messing up and ripping my skin when taking out my staples. But thanks to the detailed instructions and illustrations here, I carefully pinched each staple middle and pulled it straight out. Now, I'm healing beautifully with minimal scarring."
..."
more
"Excellent article. Pictures clearly showed step-by-step instructions and explained them well."
