Wound healing after surgery.
Surgery always involves tissue damage. Surgical wounds from musculoskeletal procedures are almost always closed. This is done with sutures, adhesive strips or staples, for example. It is important that we pay attention to the wound healing process because we want to get rid of an open connection between the outside air and our body as soon as possible. This way we reduce the risk of various complications.Â
Red flags in wound healing;Â
There is a chance of complications after any surgery, and so is wound healing. There are a number of symptoms/signs you should be aware of. In fact, should you recognize one or more of the signs below in your wound healing process, you should contact the outpatient clinic of the hospital or clinic where you had surgery.Â
- Redness i.c.w. swelling and/or pus at the wound area
- Fever (persistently elevated body temperature of >38 degrees celcius)
- Post-bleeding
- Extreme pain at the wound that will not abate with analgesia
- Loss of (smelling) wound fluid
Sometimes any sutures may cause some irritation in the skin. This is not an alarm signal, so there is no need to contact the outpatient clinic immediately.
The wound healing process
Small surgical wounds usually take 24-72 hours to close. Larger wounds may require more time. Wound healing occurs in several stages;Â
- Stage 1; blood clotting
After damage is made to the skin/tissue, bleeding occurs, the body will start clotting it so the bleeding stops. - Stage 2; redness of the skin
Blood vessels are used in and around the wound area to move blood cells to the affected tissue. - Stage 3; granulation and proliferation
The formation of new cells. - Stage 4; epithelization and regeneration New tissue fills the wound and proper blood supply and transport of oxygen and nutrients is provided by newly created blood vessels.Â
- Stage 5; maturation
Formation of scar.
Pressure bandages and plasters
Sometimes pressure bandages are used in addition to plasters after surgery. This depends in part on the region in which surgery was performed.Â
Sutures
Depending on the procedure, you may choose staples, soluble- and non-soluble sutures to close a surgical wound. In the case of soluble sutures you don't have to do anything extra, they dissolve (as the name implies) by themselves. If staples or insoluble sutures are used, you will have a follow-up appointment at the outpatient clinic (or with your doctor) to have them removed. Often this is somewhere between 7-14 days.Â
Do's and Dont's;
- Showering with stitches is fine, however, keep it short and absolutely do not bathe. After all, you don't want to soak the wound.
- Do not use closing plasters (for too long), it is good to let the wound heal dry to the air.Â
- After showering, you can pat the wound dry (do not rub it).Â
- Are you normally a user of cigarettes or the like? Stop this (temporarily). Smoking has a strong negative influence on wound healing. In any case, after surgery it is recommended to stop smoking for a longer period of time for proper overall healing.Â
- Limit the amount of UV radiation on the wound area for the first 6 months.Â
- Limit physical activity for the first 5-7 days after surgery to avoid excessive pressure and pulling forces acting on the wound.
Do you have questions about your recovery and the policies that go along with it? Feel free to ask them!
At Fysio Fitaal Tilburg we help you get back on the field, on the track or in the gym as soon as possible! Together with our physiotherapists you work step by step towards a pain free and healthy situation to get back into sports with full enthusiasm.Â
Richie Brewer
Physical therapist, sports rehabilitation
Evidence-based and measurable physical therapy. That's how we make care as efficient and targeted as possible. By collecting data during your rehabilitation, we know what you do, and therefore how you improve over time. In this way, together we ensure that you will soon be able to sport and move again without any complaints!
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