Non-healing Surgical Wounds
If you experience non-healing surgical wounds after an operation, don’t delay in seeking professional medical attention. Prompt intervention can help prevent infections, gangrene, or other serious complications. At Healing Touch WoundCare, our team of wound care specialists is dedicated to diagnosing, treating, and managing non-healing surgical wounds.
Non-healing surgical wounds are those incisions made during surgery that do not heal properly. While uncommon, these wounds can frequently lead to infections.
Although it's not possible to completely eliminate the risk of non-healing surgical wounds, you can greatly reduce your chances by diligently following your surgeon’s recovery instructions, attending all scheduled follow-up appointments, and taking your medications as directed.
What Are Non-Healing Surgical Wounds?
Who’s at risk for non-healing surgical wounds?
Anyone who undergoes surgery can potentially experience a non-healing surgical wound. Factors that may increase your risk include:
Being overweight
Having diabetes or other chronic medical conditions
Smoking
Consuming an unhealthy diet
Being middle-aged or older
Additionally, you may be more likely to develop a non-healing surgical wound if you require emergency surgery, have abdominal or intestinal surgery, or undergo an operation that lasts longer than two hours.
How Are Non-Healing Surgical Wounds Diagnosed?
After surgery, your surgeon and care team will closely monitor your recovery. The duration of your recovery varies based on the type of surgery and your health history, but most wounds typically start healing within a month. During each follow-up appointment, your surgeon will assess the wound site to track its condition and progress.
If signs of infection or other complications are detected, you will be referred to Healing Touch WoundCare. A visual examination is generally sufficient to diagnose a non-healing surgical wound. However, if further confirmation is needed, your provider may order blood tests or diagnostic imaging, such as an X-ray or MRI.
What Are the Symptoms of Non-Healing Surgical Wounds?
The symptoms of non-healing surgical wounds vary depending on the type of surgery and the affected area of your body. Common signs include:
Fever
Pus or drainage
Increased pain
Redness at the surgical site
Dry or flaky skin
As the condition of your non-healing surgical wound progresses, you may also detect an unpleasant odor emanating from the wound.
How Are Non-Healing Surgical Wounds Treated?
Treatment for non-healing surgical wounds is based on the wound's severity and its impact on your quality of life. At Healing Touch WoundCare, we typically recommend holistic and synergistic treatments that support your body’s natural healing process.
Depending on your specific needs, this may include compression therapy, wound debridement, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, or topical treatments such as bioengineered skin grafts.
Why Choose Healing Touch WoundCare?
The Healing Touch WoundCare team is one of the few practices to offer specialized care for atypical wounds. Our staff can evaluate your wound to determine if it is atypical and provide comprehensive care solutions. We offer a wide range of therapies that can be used independently or in combination.
Our team of highly-trained providers will also teach you how to properly care for your wound at home. This includes demonstrating how to thoroughly clean the wound, protect healthy skin, and change dressings. If you think you may have an atypical wound, call Healing Touch or book an appointment online today.
