Abstract

Invasive infection of major surgical wounds continues as a serious problem. In spite of good surgical technics, proper wound draping, irrigation, local and systemic antibiotics, etc, the incidence of wound infections remains unacceptably high. In an attempt to solve this problem, a technic was developed wherein primary closure of the wound is delayed for five to seven days after the initial surgery. This method has been applied to 300 consecutive wound-infection-prone patients, and there has been no incidence of invasive infection in any of these patients. The method does not increase hospitalization time and patient acceptance is excellent. There has been no associated morbidity with the technic and wound healing is not delayed. The cosmetic result of delayed primary wound closure is no different from that obtained from primary closure.