Patient education: Caring for a closed 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 often closed with stitches. Stitches are also called "sutures." They might be on top of the skin, or under the first layer of skin. In some cases, doctors might use special staples or skin glue to close the wound instead. You might also have strips of tape helping to hold the wound closed.

It's important to take care of a surgical wound as it heals. 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, if you were told to do this. This will help protect it from germs that could cause infection.

●Take all of your medicines as instructed.

●You can gently wash around the wound with soap and water after 48 hours, and let water run over the wound. Pat dry, and put on a clean dressing. If your doctor gave you different instructions, follow them.

●Follow your doctor's instructions for when and how to change your dressing.

•Always wash your hands before and after touching the wound or dressing.

•Each time you change the dressing, look closely at the wound to check that it is healing. Look for any signs of infection. These might include skin color changes, swelling, or drainage from the wound.

●Avoid picking the scab or scratching the area. If you have small strips of tape helping to keep the wound closed, do not remove them. They will fall off on their own, or your doctor will carefully remove them. You can trim the ends of the strips that curl up if they bother you or catch on your clothing.

●Do not soak in water or swim until your wound has healed.

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

●Avoid activities or sports that could hurt your wound or pull on your stitches 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 if you need to make a follow-up appointment. Make sure that you know what you need to do and when and where to go.

If you have stitches on the outside or skin staples, you will need to get them removed. Sometimes, stitches are placed under the skin, where you don't see them. These usually do not need to be removed. In most cases, they will absorb on their own.

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

You should also call if the wound:

●Starts to hurt more

●Opens up

More on this topic

Patient education: Caring for an open surgical wound (The Basics)
Patient education: Stitches and staples (The Basics)
Patient education: Surgical site infection (The Basics)
Patient education: Lowering the risk of a surgical site infection (The Basics)
Patient education: Questions to ask if you are having surgery or a procedure (The Basics)