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

What is a surgical wound? — A surgical wound is a cut that the doctor makes during surgery. It is also called an "incision."

After surgery, the wound is typically closed with stitches. Stitches are also called "sutures." Sometimes, a surgical wound breaks open. This is most often due to infection, but can happen for other reasons, too. Depending on the cause, the doctor might not close the wound right away, and instead leave it open to heal on its own.

It's important to take care of a surgical wound as it heals. This is especially true for open wounds. That's because if germs get into the body through the wound, it could cause a serious infection. The medical term for this is "surgical site infection."

You might need a family member or friend to help you care for your surgical 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 that 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 your wound covered as it heals. This will help protect it from germs that could cause infection.

●Follow your doctor's instructions for when and how to change your wound dressing. If your wound needs to be "packed," your doctor or nurse will show you how to do this. It involves putting gauze or other special material into the wound. This packing material helps absorb drainage if the wound is wet or provide 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.

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

●Look closely at the wound to check that the area is healing each time you change the dressings. If there is a lot of drainage or the amount of pus is increasing, tell your doctor. Look at the skin around the open wound for signs of infection like skin color changes or swelling.

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

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

●Avoid activities or sports that could hurt your 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 that you know when and where to go.

People with open wounds often see their doctor once every 1 to 2 weeks. If the wound is healing well, the time between visits might be longer.

Your doctor will tell you if your wound can be re-closed with stitches. In some cases, you might need a separate surgery to cover and protect the wound. This can involve placement of a "skin graft" or other tissue to fill in the space. Your doctor will tell you if you are likely to 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: Questions to ask if you are having surgery or a procedure (The Basics)
Patient education: Caring for a closed surgical wound (The Basics)
Patient education: Negative pressure wound therapy (The Basics)
Patient education: Surgical site infection (The Basics)
Patient education: Lowering the risk of a surgical site infection (The Basics)