#Stapled head wound skin

The diagnosis of early SSI poses a significant problem. This process is further enhanced with the addition of colour photographs of the wound at discharge, which has been reported to reduce post-incisional SSI hospital readmission rates. 6 The discharge summary from the hospital indicating the nature of surgical operation and instructions on wound care is extremely helpful. A recent review did not find evidence that the timing of dressing removal affects SSI risk. On presentation, it is important to carry out a thorough patient assessment and examination of the incisional wound (unless the latter is contraindicated), specifically looking for signs and symptoms of wound infection. wounds requiring an examination to detect early SSI and/or superficial or deep wound dehiscence.wounds with dressings on since the time of hospital discharge.Post-surgical wounds seen at the general practice may be categorised as: This article is intended to provide a guideline for managing post-surgical wounds in the context of general practice.Ĭategories of wounds seen in the general practice setting 6,8 In Australia, the incidence of SSIs has been reported between 10% and 30%, at a cost of $6.7 billion. It is estimated that up to 20% of healthcare-associated infections are due to SSIs, affecting up to 5% of patients post-surgery. A clear understanding of the rationale for wound dressings on post-operative wounds coupled with product-specific knowledge, especially about complex products such as negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT), is also important.Ī substantial number of SSIs occur after hospital discharge. It is important that GPs are able to detect subtle changes in the wound characteristics in cases of abnormal healing due to a haematoma, seroma, surgical site infection (SSI) or wound dehiscence. 7 Coupled with this, an increased number of complex surgical procedures are being performed in elderly patients with multiple comorbidities – potentially increasing the rate of post-operative wound complications.įollowing hospital discharge, patients are often not seen at their respective hospitals or private consulting practices until 4–6 weeks later, and the burden of care during this period rests on GPs. 6 This is a matter of importance, as rising numbers of early patient discharges from hospitals following major procedures are occurring because the demand for hospital beds in Australia presently exceeds supply. 1 Subsequently, George Winter’s landmark publication in 1962 about moist wound healing 2 resulted in a vast array of wound dressings available on the market, often with considerable confusion about their appropriate use on acute and chronic wounds.Īlthough there are many published resources on the management of chronic wounds, 3–5 there is a lack of guidelines on the management of acute post-surgical wounds in the community by general practitioners (GPs), and ‘there is almost no research on wound care in the post-hospital setting’. Accessed May 26, 2021.The management of wounds has progressed significantly since Ambroise Paré’s famous words, ‘I dressed him and God healed him’.

#Stapled head wound skin

In: Taylor and Kelly's Dermatology for Skin of Color. Rochester, Minn.: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research 2017. Itasca, Ill.: American Academy of Pediatrics 2018. American College of Emergency Physicians. If it was caused by a wild animal, seek advice from your doctor about which animals are most likely to carry rabies. If the wound was caused by a cat or a dog, try to confirm that its rabies vaccination is up to date. The injured person should have the booster shot within 48 hours of the injury. If the injured person hasn't had a tetanus shot in the past five years and the wound is deep or dirty, your doctor may recommend a booster. Is deep and to the head, neck, scrotum, chest or abdomen.Is the result of an animal or human bite.Keeps bleeding after a few minutes of direct pressure.On dark skin, redness may not be apparent, or the infection's streaks may look purplish-gray or darker than your normal skin. On light skin, spreading redness is a sign of infection. See a doctor if the wound isn't healing or you notice any increasing pain, pus, swelling or fever. Do this daily or whenever the bandage becomes wet or dirty. If a rash appears, stop using the product and seek medical care. Certain ingredients in some ointments can cause a mild rash in some people.