WHAT IS WOUND CLOSURE?

What is Wound Closure?

What is Wound Closure?

Introduction

Wound closure is the process of bringing together and securing the edges of a wound to promote healing and reduce scarring. Though healing of small, superficial wounds usually occurs spontaneously, larger wounds often require closure techniques to facilitate the healing process. The process depends on five parameters followed below:

What

Wound closure methods range from minimally invasive to very invasive, depending on the type of wound involved. Surgical wound care is by definition very invasive, as repair of multiple tissue layers may be involved. Repair of wounds closed with sutures or staples requires infiltration of the wound with local anesthetic, cleansing and/or debridement, all of which are moderately invasive and potentially painful. Repair of minor skin lacerations with tissue adhesive or adhesive strips is, however, usually a simple, minimally invasive procedure.

How

The wound edges are approximated and secured using sutures, staples, tissue adhesive, or adhesive strips

Where

Wound closure techniques are used anywhere lacerations and other skin injuries, including surgical incisions, are treated. These techniques are therefore used in hospital emergency care units, in surgery departments, and in outpatient surgical and primary care settings.

Who

Wound closure by sutures, staples, and tissue adhesives may be performed by physicians and appropriately trained nurse practitioners and physician assistants. Depending upon the clinical setting, typical nursing responsibilities during these procedures include applying pressure to the wound to promote hemostasis during active bleeding and cleansing the wound prior to wound closure. Following the procedure, nurses may also be responsible for dressing changes, observation of wounds for proper healing and absence of infection, removal of sutures or staples, and providing patient and family education on wound care. Nurses may perform closure of simple wounds using adhesive strips. Except in the case of small superficial wounds and/or wounds in children, it may be inappropriate for family members to be present during wound closure. The patient's anxiety level must be assessed; if the presence of family members reduces anxiety, they may be present during the procedure.

What is the Desired Outcome of Wound Closure?

Appropriate wound closure promotes healing, prevents infection of injured tissue, and reduces scarring.

Why is Wound Closure Important?

Some wound closure techniques facilitate healing by aligning and securing the edges of the wound together, allowing new tissue formation to take place. Wound edges may, however, be left open in infected or contaminated wounds to allow further treatment of healing tissue and monitoring of ...