Surgical Wound Care

Support Your Healing and Prevent Complications

Different surgical wounds heal in different ways. There are simple, clean wounds that heal with the edges lined up neatly. There are also complicated wounds that can't be closed during surgery.

In either case, you can take steps to properly care for your wound in a way that supports healing and helps prevent infection after you return home.

Wound types

Whether a surgical wound is “clean” depends on where it is and what led to surgery. 

Clean. Clean wounds have no infection and are in areas that are not likely to get infected. 

Clean-contaminated. Clean-contaminated wounds are not infected at the time of surgery but are more likely to get infected because of their location. If a surgeon had to repair an internal organ, it is more likely to lead to an infection. 

Contaminated. Surgeons consider a wound contaminated if it could have exposure to bacteria but is not actively infected, such as wounds from accidents or surgery where the gastrointestinal tract was open. 

Dirty-contaminated. Dirty-contaminated wounds have the highest chance of developing complications. These wounds are in tissue that was already infected at the time of surgery.

Woman wrapping her hand in gauze

When to Call Your Doctor

Call your surgeon or inform your care team if you have any of these symptoms:

• Bleeding that does not stop with direct pressure.

• A fever of 101 degrees or greater.

• Foul smelling drainage from your wound.

• Redness and heat around your wound.

• Wound tissue changing from pink to yellow, white, or black.

• Staples or sutures that have come out, or a new opening.

• Pain that does not go away with medication.

Higher Risk

You may heal more slowly and be at higher risk of infections if you:

Have diabetes. You can help healing by keeping your blood sugar under control. 

Taking medications called corticosteroids. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits. 

Smoke. For resources to help you quit, visit smokefree.gov or call
1-800-QUIT NOW.

Hand cutting gauze with medical scissors

Set Goals

After surgery, your wound care goals are to avoid complications, infection, and to regain the best function and appearance of the affected area.

Wound closures

Not all wounds can be closed during surgery due to their shape, size, or because of a high risk of infection. When surgeons do close a wound, they can use several methods.

Sutures. Sutures, also called stitches, are made of a thread-like material that’s used to sew the wound edges together. Some sutures dissolve on their own, typically within 4 to 8 weeks, and don't require removal. There are also non-absorbable sutures that do not dissolve and need to be removed by a healthcare professional. Talk to your surgeon about the type of sutures you have.

Staples. Staples are small, metal clips placed across the wound to hold the edges together. They provide a strong, quick closure and are often used to close incisions with fairly straight edges. A healthcare professional needs to remove staples after the wound has healed. 

Steri-Strips®. Steri-Strips® are thin adhesive strips, like tape. They are placed across wounds to help the edges together. They are typically used for minor wounds but can sometimes be combined with sutures to ensure a wound isn’t pulled apart.

Avoid getting Steri-Strips® wet for the first 24 hours after surgery. Leave them in place until they fall off, often in 7 to 10 days. You may trim loose ends if they start to peel back, but do not pull them off. 

Adhesives. Your surgeon may close your wound with a glue called skin adhesive or skin glue. It’s typically used for minor wounds and lacerations. Leave the adhesive in place until it comes off on its own, usually around 5 to 10 days. 

Helping your surgical wound heal

After surgery, caring for your wound at home involves keeping it clean and dry, protecting it from infection and reopening, and managing any pain or discomfort. You'll need to follow your surgeon's specific instructions, usually found in your discharge instructions.

Keep the following in mind to give your surgical wound the best environment for healing:

Activity restrictions. Avoid lifting, bending, or straining to help prevent your wound from reopening. Your doctor may also advise against certain exercises or sports for a specific period.

Keep it dry. Ask your surgeon when you may shower. With a closed, clean wound, you can usually shower after 24 hours. Do not bathe or get into a hot tub or swimming pool until your wound heals. You could get an infection.

Control swelling. Use ice packs wrapped in a cloth to reduce swelling and discomfort. Elevating the affected area, if you’re able, may also help.

Dressing care.  Dressing is another word for your bandage or gauze. Follow your surgeon’s instructions; they will tell you when to change the dressing, how to clean the wound, and what types of products to use. Always change the dressing if it becomes wet or soiled, when you shower, and as often as your surgeon recommends. To change your dressing:

• Clean your hands well with soap and water.

• Peel back the tape edges carefully and remove the old dressing.

Note: If your dressing gets stuck to the wound, don’t tug at it. Moisten it with water until it comes off. Throw the old dressing and tape away.

• Clean your wound with a gentle, unscented soap, then rinse it gently with clean water.

• If allowed, you can also clean your wound in the shower.

• While cleaning, inspect your wound for signs of infection, like swelling or discharge. 

• Gently pat your wound dry with a clean towel or washcloth, and air dry.

• Once dry, cover your wound with a fresh dressing and tape.

Special care for surgical wounds

Depending on its type, size, and location, your wound may need special care.

Packing. Wounds with tunneled areas are packed with moist gauze to absorb drainage and help with healing. Your care team may train you or a caregiver to perform dressing changes with packing. 

Surgical drains. If your wound has a lot of drainage, you may have a surgical drain for some time. There are several types. Usually, you will have a thin tube inside your wound leading out to a collection bag, bulb, or container. Many drains use gentle suction. If you go home with a drain, your nurse will teach you or a caregiver how to empty and care for it. 

Negative pressure wound therapy. You may hear this referred to as a wound vac. A nurse will pack your wound with foam material and seal it with an adhesive covering. A tube connects the sealed wound to a vacuum pump that removes drainage. Wound vacs help promote healing and pull the wound edges together. A nurse will perform all dressing changes. 

More wound healing tips

In addition to the steps above, you can also support healing by:

• Eating a healthy diet, especially lean proteins

• Stay hydrated

• Avoid smoking

Always follow your doctor’s specific instructions when caring for your wound.

 

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