Suturing Skills and Advanced Techniques Course Description

Course Credits: Earn up to 15 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ and AAFP Prescribed Credits.

Course Price: $1,695

Suturing Skills and Advanced Techniques is a two-day course.


Primary care providers in the outpatient setting are frequently expected to manage a wide variety of wounds. Proper techniques and strategies are necessary to manage the challenges of traumatic wounds, as well as elective wounds made in a controlled setting for the purpose of biopsy or excision. Whether the wound is simple or complicated, the common goal for all repairs is complete closure while minimizing complications and maximizing healing to achieve the best possible cosmetic outcome. 

This course is designed to provide insight into the anatomy of the skin, principles of healing, surgical equipment, and multiple techniques employed to optimize results and patient satisfaction. Basic suturing concepts and techniques will be covered in addition to multiple advanced techniques to address difficult wounds with irregularities, asymmetry or missing tissue. Lecture time is focused on the concepts and details applicable to all types of wounds. The course agenda includes an abundance of hands-on practice time, allowing attendees to develop confidence and skills necessary for accurate wound repair.

Didactic material and techniques range from very basic to more advanced techniques, so the course is designed for providers of all skill levels. Those with minimal experience will find a comfortable agenda and learning environment to master the basics. Those with more experience will find ample opportunity to sharpen and refine skills while broadening their abilities with the more advanced techniques. Hands-on practice will include simple sutures, mattress sutures, subcutaneous sutures, and buried sutures. Advanced techniques will include leveling stitches, dog ear repair, z-plasty, v-y plasty, and advancement flaps.

This course provides a friendly, low-pressure environment for residents, physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants from a variety of practice settings. Take advantage of this opportunity to learn, practice, and improve your skills without feeling judged or intimidated by what you don't already know.

By the end of this activity, the participant should be better able to: 

  • Discuss the anatomy and physiology of skin and identify impediments to healing.
  • Develop a well-organized procedure suite and appropriately select equipment and supplies necessary to perform suturing procedures successfully and safely.
  • Identify and comprehend important key elements in patient history, informed consent, and aftercare instructions.
  • Select appropriate local anesthetics and utilize techniques to minimize patient discomfort.
  • Review pertinent factors to develop a plan for excision and closure before the procedure.
  • Identify the main principles of wound closure and techniques to reduce tension, close dead space, and minimize complications.
  • Develop confidence in basic knot tying and suturing techniques.
  • Plan and utilize more advanced techniques including dog ear repair, simple plasties, and various advancement flaps.
2025 Course Accreditation

The Texas Academy of Family Physicians designates this live activity for a maximum of 15.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

The AAFP has reviewed Suturing Skills and Advanced Techniques and deemed it acceptable for AAFP credit. This session is approved for 15 Live AAFP Prescribed credits. Term of approval is from 05/03/2025 to 12/05/2025. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Learn more about our accreditation.


7:30 - 8 a.m.

Registration and breakfast

Day One

8 - 9 a.m. — 1 CME credit

Basic Concepts of Wound Healing

    • Discuss the anatomy and physiology of skin and identify impediments to healing.
    • Review basic concepts of skin closure and wound healing.

        Preparing for Closure: Prepare the Office, the Patient, and the Wound

          • Discuss the process of preparing the patient, the wound, and the procedure room for closure. 
          • Develop a well-organized procedure suite and appropriately select equipment and supplies necessary to perform suturing procedures successfully and safely.

            9 - 10 a.m. — 1 CME credit

            Anesthesia: Medications and Supplies, General Techniques to Minimize Discomfort, Field Blocks

            • Differentiate between compounds used to administer local anesthesia and describe appropriate dosage range.
            • Learn techniques to minimize discomfort in administering local anesthesia. 
            • Describe and illustrate several techniques for achieving anesthesia in various body regions.
            • Assess potential complications and risks when using local anesthetic agents. 

            10 - 10:15 a.m. — Break

            10:15 a.m. - 12 p.m. — 1.75 CME credits

            Principles of Closure: Make a Plan, Aseptic Technique and Prep, Reduce Tension, Post-operative Instructions

            • Discuss the principles of wound closure and healing and decide which wounds are eligible for closure or not.
            • Identify and comprehend important key elements in patient history, informed consent, and aftercare instructions.
            • Review pertinent factors to develop a plan for excision and closure before the procedure.
            • Identify the main principles of wound closure and techniques to reduce tension, close dead space, and minimize complications.

            12 - 1 p.m. — Lunch

            1 - 1:30 p.m. — 0.5 CME credits

            Alternatives to Suturing: Surgical Tape, Staples, Glue

            • Discuss indications, benefits, and pitfalls of using surgical tape, glues and staples.

            1:30 - 2:30 p.m. — 1 CME credit

            Surgical Knots

            • Learn various knot-tying skills and assess each patient individually for adequate closure and knot-tying techniques for proper and safe closure.

            2:30 - 3 p.m. — 0.5 CME credits

            Billing and Coding

            • Properly code skin excision and repair techniques and procedures accurately and completely.

            3 - 3:15 p.m. — Break

            3:15 - 5 p.m. — 1.75 CME credits

            Suturing Techniques: Simple Interrupted, Simple Running, Horizontal Mattress, Vertical Mattress

            • Learn suturing techniques, including simple interrupted, simple running, horizontal mattress, and vertical mattress.

            Day Two

            8 - 10 a.m. — 2 CME credits

            Suturing Techniques: Running Subcuticular, Deep Inverted

            • Learn suturing techniques, including running subcuticular and deep inverted.

            10 - 10:15 a.m. — Break

            10:15 - 11:15 a.m. — 1 CME credit

            Basic Corrective Techniques: Leveling Stitch, Half Buried Vertical Mattress, Half Buried Horizontal Mattress (Corner Stitch)

            • Learn suturing techniques, including leveling stitches, half-buried vertical mattress, and half-buried horizontal mattress (corner stitch).

            11:15 a.m. - 12 p.m. — 0.75 CME credits

            Dog Ear Repair

            • Learn suturing techniques, including dog ear repair.

            12 - 1 p.m. — Lunch

            1 - 3 p.m. — 2 CME credits

            Advanced Techniques: Plasties, Advancement Flaps

            • Learn advanced suturing techniques, including different plasties and advancement flaps, and when and where to use these suturing techniques.

            3 - 3:15 p.m. — Break

            3:15 - 5 p.m. — 1.75 CME credits

            Advanced Techniques: Plasties, Advancement Flaps, Cont.

            • Learn advanced suturing techniques, including different plasties and advancement flaps, and when and where to use these suturing techniques.

            TOTAL CME CREDITS: 15