Complications of Wound Healing

There are various complications one can go through during the process of wound healing. Impaired wound healing requires observation and ongoing interventions. These types of situations can turn into a life threatening situation and one must be able to recognize the seriousness of the signs and symptoms that can arise before complications can turn vital.

Wound bleeding: Bleeding may indicate a dislodged clot, slipped sutures, coagulation problems, and trauma to blood vessels or tissues. This type of bleeding could show up on the wounds dressing, while internal hemorrhaging can occur inside the cavity of the body while the dressing stays dry and shows no signs of collecting blood.

Dehiscence: this is the medical term for when the wound layers separate. The feeling you may experience when this happens is the feeling of something giving away. Most people may experience this after coughing, sneezing or vomiting. In the event your wound separates you should immediately place a sterile dressing over the area until a physician can evaluate the area.

Evisceration: this is the medical term for when the abdominal organs protrude through the opening of an incision. This is a medical emergency and in the event of this happening you are to dial 911 and contact your physician immediately. Remain in bed and the wound is to contents are to be covered in warm, sterile saline dressings. This type of complication will require surgical repair.

The most common form of complication of wound healing is wound infection. The CDC (Center for Disease Control) labels a wound "infected" when it contains purulent drainage. Purulent drainage is another meaning for pus. Someone with a infected wound may display a fever, tenderness or pain at the site of the wound, edema (swelling) and/or an elevated white blood count. Purulent drainage will have an odor and depending on the pathogen causing the infection it can be brown, green or yellow in color.

To prevent infection of wounds it is important to make sure you maintain a clean possible sterile area while cleaning your wound. Wash hands and keep wound area clean, follow any physician's orders you may have been given to properly care for your wound. Apply all dressing and topical medications per your physicians orders.