How to Do a One-Handed Surgeon's Knot

A surgeon's knot is a variant on a square knot. It is an essential skill for anyone suturing a wound -- doctors, nurses, veterinarians and veterinary technicians all use this technique for safe and secure wound closure. A one-handed surgeon's knot is a misnomer -- both hands are involved in tying the knot, but one hand plays a passive role in the process. Creating a surgeon's knot with a one-handed tying method requires more dexterity, but frees up more of your fingers for other purposes, such as stabilizing the area around the suture.

Things You'll Need

• Suture material

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Instructions

• 1

  Drape the working end of the suture material farthest from you over the index finger of your non-dominant hand. Drape the working end of the suture material closest to you over the index finger of your dominant hand.

• 2

  Cross the working end of the suture material in your dominant hand over the suture material in your non-dominant hand, forming an X-shape.

• 3

  Bend your non-dominant index finger over the suture material held by your dominant hand. Twist the suture material snagged by your non-dominant index finger, rotating it under the suture material held by your non-dominant hand, creating a loop in the suture.

• 4

  Flex your non-dominant index finger and rotate it, pulling the suture material held by your non-dominant hand through the loop, creating a second loop. Do not pull the first loop taut.

• 5

  Bend and insert your index finger into the loop a second time, snagging the suture material held by your dominant hand. Rotate this leg of suture material under the material held by your non-dominant hand.

• 6

  Flex your index finger, pulling the end of the suture material in your non-dominant hand through the loop a second time.

• 7

  Pull the working ends of the suture material with both hands, ensuring that the suture lays flush with the patient's flesh.

• 8

  Bring the suture material from the farthest side of the wound over the suture material on the nearest side of the wound, creating an X-shape.

• 9

  Bend your non-dominant index finger around the suture material from the far side, threading your finger underneath the suture material from the near side, creating a loop.

• 10

  Flex your index finger, pulling the suture material from the near side through the loop.

• 11

  Tighten the knot using one hand on each leg of the suture material.