Patient education: Caring for an open wound (The Basics)

What is a wound? — 

This is damage to the skin and the soft tissues under the skin. It can happen after an injury or during surgery.

After surgery, a wound is typically closed with stitches. Stitches are also called "sutures." Depending on the cause, the doctor might not close the wound right away and instead wait to close it later. Or they might leave it open to heal on its own.

Sometimes, a surgical wound breaks open. This is most often due to infection, but can happen for other reasons, too.

It's important to take care of an open wound as it heals. That's because if germs get into the body through the wound, it could cause a serious infection.

You might need a family member or friend to help you care for your open wound. Some people have a home health nurse come to their home to help with this.

How do I care for myself at home? — 

Ask the doctor or nurse what you should do when you go home. Make sure you understand exactly what you need to do to care for yourself. Ask questions if there is anything you do not understand.

You should also:

●Keep the wound covered as it heals. This helps protect it from germs that could cause infection.

●Follow your doctor's instructions for when and how to change the wound dressing:

•If the wound needs to be "packed," your doctor or nurse will show you how. It involves putting gauze or other special material into the wound. The packing material helps absorb drainage if the wound is wet or provides moisture if the wound is dried out. It also helps keep the wound clean as it heals. The packing material is covered with a special bandage to keep the dressing in place and protect your clothing.

•Some people get "negative pressure wound therapy." This involves a special kind of dressing with a tube that attaches to a machine. The machine creates a suction or vacuum that pulls excess fluid out of the wound. It also affects the surface of the wound to help it heal.

●Always wash your hands before and after touching the wound, dressing, packing, or bandage.

●Look closely at the wound to make sure the area is healing each time you change the dressing. As the tissue heals, it might look red, moist, and bumpy. If you see pus or if there is fluid draining from the wound, tell your doctor. Look at your skin around the wound for signs of infection like skin color changes or swelling.

●Follow your doctor's instructions about whether it is OK to get the wound wet or soak it in water.

●Avoid smoking. If you smoke, it can take longer for the wound to heal.

●Avoid activities or sports that could hurt the wound while it is healing. Your doctor or nurse will tell you when you can do these things again.

What follow-up care do I need? — 

Your doctor or nurse will tell you when you need to make a follow-up appointment. If so, make sure you know when and where to go.

People with open wounds often see their doctor once a week at first. If the wound is healing well, the time between visits might be longer.

Your doctor will tell you if the wound can be closed with stitches. In some cases, you might need a separate surgery to cover and protect the wound. This can involve placing a "skin graft" or other tissue (called a "flap") to fill in the space. Your doctor will tell you if you might need this.

When should I call the doctor? — 

Call your doctor or nurse if you have any signs of an infection. These might include:

●Changes in skin color, swelling, warmth, or increased pain around the wound

●Any fluid draining from the wound, including pus, blood, or watery fluid, especially if it has a bad smell

●Streaks on the skin going away from the wound, or streaks going up your arm or leg

●Fever

More on this topic

Patient education: Caring for a closed surgical wound (The Basics)
Patient education: How to change a dressing (The Basics)
Patient education: Negative pressure wound therapy (The Basics)
Patient education: Lowering the risk of a surgical site infection (The Basics)
Patient education: Surgical site infection (The Basics)
Patient education: Bacterial wound culture (The Basics)
Patient education: Questions to ask if you are having surgery or a procedure (The Basics)