Wounds

Question 1

What is primary wound closure?

Answer 1

Suture wound closes immediately

Question 2

What is secondary wound closure?

Answer 2

Wound is left open and heals over time without sutures.

It heals by granulation, contraction, and epithelialization over weeks (leaves a larger scar).

Question 3

What is delayed primary closure?

Answer 3

Suture wound closes 3-5 days after incision (classically 5 days)

Question 4

How long until a sutured wound epithelializes?

Answer 4

24-48 hours

Question 5

After a primary closure, when should the dressing be removed?

Answer 5

POD #2

Question 6

When can a patient take a shower after a primary closure?

Answer 6

Anytime after POD #2 (after wound epithelializes)

Question 7

What is a wet-to-dry dressing?

Answer 7

Damp (not wet) gauze dressing placed over a granulating wound and then allowed to dry to the wound.
Removal allows for “microdebridement” of the wound.

Question 8

What inhibits wound healing?

Answer 8

Infection, ischemia, diabetes, malnutrition, anemia, steroids, cancer, radiation, smoking

Question 9

What reverses the deleterious effects of steroids on wound healing?

Answer 9

Vitamin A

Question 10

What is an abdominal wound dehiscence?

Answer 10

Opening of the fascial closure (not skin).

Treat by returning to the OR for immediate fascial reclosure.

Question 11

What is Dakin solution?

Answer 11

Dilute sodium hypochlorite (bleach) used in contaminated wounds