Which is a disadvantage of the simple interrupted suture?

• A. Causes railroad track scarring
• B. Promotes rapid healing
• C. Prevents infection effectively
• D. Produces uniform scar appearance

Answer: (A)

The main idea is that simple interrupted sutures can leave noticeable surface marks when used on the skin. Each bite of the thread creates a tiny track under the skin, and with multiple interrupted stitches along a wound, these tracks can heal as two parallel lines along the closure. That pattern resembles railroad tracks and is a known cosmetic drawback of this technique, especially in areas where the skin is under tension or where the wound is being closed with many discrete stitches.

This method is not chosen for promoting faster healing or for reliably preventing infection; those outcomes depend more on overall technique, wound preparation, and postoperative care than on the suture method alone. It also does not inherently guarantee a uniform scar appearance—the final scar depends on tension distribution, tissue handling, and individual healing factors.