A type of surgical stitch used especially to close the edges of a wound, in which the needle is reinserted on the same side from which it emerged, forming a loop on each side as it is passed back and forth.
Origin
Early 20th century; earliest use found in The Lancet.
Definition of mattress suture in US English:
mattress suture
noun
A type of surgical stitch used especially to close the edges of a wound, in which the needle is reinserted on the same side from which it emerged, forming a loop on each side as it is passed back and forth.
Origin
Early 20th century; earliest use found in The Lancet.