Surgical Wound Complications
Surgical wound complications, including infections, are the leading cause of hospital readmissions. The experienced team at Healing Touch WoundCare offers comprehensive care for all types of surgical wound issues, crafting personalized treatment plans to support healing and help you avoid readmission.
What Are Some Common Surgical Wound Complications?
Whenever your body experiences a cut or incision, whether from surgery or other causes, there is a risk of complications that can hinder normal wound healing. Since surgery typically involves multiple incisions, the risk of complications is elevated. The two most common complications associated with surgical wounds are:
Wound Infections
Infections represent the most frequent and severe complication of surgical wounds. Most post-surgery infections occur within a month, causing redness, pain, fever, and pus draining from the wound. If you had a device implanted, it could take up to a year for an infection to develop.
Wound Dehiscence
Dehiscence, or wound separation, occurs when a wound fails to close properly. As the wound heals, new tissue forms along the edges and gradually moves toward the center to close the wound. Dehiscence happens when these edges do not meet in the middle, causing the wound to reopen.
What Factors Increase the Risk for Surgical Wound Complications?
Several factors can elevate the risk of developing complications from surgical wounds:
Smoking: Smoking reduces oxygen levels in the body, which impairs the healing process.
Diabetes: Elevated blood sugar levels can lead to increased inflammation, reduced healing cell supply, and a higher risk of infection, all of which hinder wound healing.
Obesity: Obesity is linked to slower healing and a greater risk of wound dehiscence.
Malnutrition: Adequate nutrition is essential for wound healing. Your body requires extra calories, protein, vitamins, and minerals to meet the demands of healing. Even with a balanced diet, you may not receive the necessary levels of nutrients, which can increase the risk of infection and poor healing.
Cancer Treatment: Radiation therapy and chemotherapy drugs can negatively affect the healing process.
How Do You Treat Surgical Wound Complications?
Healing Touch WoundCare Center provides personalized care for surgical wound complications, including:
Wound cleansing
Debridement to remove dead or infected tissue
Prevention of skin breakdown around the wound
Bacterial cultures and targeted antibiotic treatment
Maintaining a moisture balance to promote healing
Selecting and applying the appropriate dressing
Your provider will choose from a range of specialized dressings designed to create the optimal healing environment for your specific wound complication.
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 WoundCare or book an appointment online today.
