Technique for placing a horizontal mattress stitch

A horizontal mattress suture can be used to achieve wound eversion in areas of high skin tension. The needle is introduced into the skin in the usual manner and brought out on the opposite side of the wound. A second bite is taken along the opposite side, approximately 0.5 cm from the first exit site, and is brought back to the original starting side, also 0.5 cm from the initial entry point.