Wound Dehiscence

Wound Dehiscence occurs when an incision made during surgery breaks open along the sutures (stitches). Infection, poor tissue structure, poor circulation, or wound stress can cause surgical incisions to open, but most commonly this occurs because the patient has been too active and stretched the incision by vomiting, coughing, or sneezing. Wounds closed by skin grafts or skin flaps that fail to heal and in turn, reopen, fall into this treatment category. It is critical to acknowledge wound dehiscence promptly so as to reduce risk of infections and/or severe complications.