Non-Healing Surgical Wounds

Wound Care & Hyperbaric Medicine Specialists located in Dallas, TX, Fort Worth, TX, Frisco, TX, Overland Park, KS, San Antonio, TX, The Woodlands, TX, Tyler, TX, & Little Rock, AR

If you develop non-healing surgical wounds following an operation, don’t wait to seek professional medical help. Prompt intervention can prevent infection, gangrene, or other life-threatening symptoms. At Wound Evolution in Fort Worth, Dallas, San Antonio, Texas, and Overland Park, Kansas, our team of wound care specialists work with patients to diagnose, treat, and manage non-healing surgical wounds. To schedule an appointment, call or book online today.

What Are Non-Healing Surgical Wounds?

Non-healing surgical wounds occur when an incision made during surgery doesn’t heal as it should. Although rare, non-healing surgical wounds often result in infection.

There’s no way to avoid non-healing surgical wounds entirely, but you can significantly lower your risk by following your surgeon’s recovery instructions carefully, attending all of your follow-up appointments, and taking your medications as prescribed.

Who Is at Risk of Experiencing Non-Healing Surgical Wounds?

Anyone who undergoes a surgical operation can experience a non-healing surgical wound. Some of the conditions that may increase your risk include:

Being overweight
Having diabetes or another chronic medical condition
Smoking
Eating an unhealthy diet
Being middle-aged or older

You’re also more likely to develop a non-healing surgical wound if you need emergency surgery, undergo abdominal or intestinal surgery, or need an operation that lasts longer than two hours.

What Are the Symptoms of Non-Healing Surgical Wounds?

The symptoms of non-healing surgical wounds depend on the type of surgery you had and the location of your body treated. Common signs of non-healing surgical wounds include:

Fever
Pus or drainage
Increased pain
Redness at the surgical site
Dry or flaky skin

As your non-healing surgical wound progresses, you might also notice an unpleasant odor coming from it.

How Are Non-Healing Surgical Wounds Diagnosed?

Following surgery, your surgeon and care team monitor your recovery process. The length of your recovery depends on the type of surgery and your health history, but most wounds usually begin healing within a month. Your surgeon observes the wound site at each follow-up appointment, monitoring its condition and progress.

If they notice signs of an infection or other potential complications, they’ll refer you to Wound Evolution. A visual exam is usually enough to diagnose a non-healing surgical wound. If your provider needs further confirmation, they may order blood tests or diagnostic imaging such as an X-ray or MRI.

Non-Healing Surgical Wounds Treatment

Treatment of non-healing surgical wounds depends on the severity of the wound and its effect on your quality of life. Wound Evolution - Wound Care and Hyperbaric Medicine usually recommend holistic, synergistic treatments that complement your body’s natural healing process.

Depending on your individual needs, this might include compression therapy, wound debridement, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, or a topical treatment like bioengineered skin grafts.

Schedule an Appointment

Don’t let a non-healing surgical wound get worse. A non-healing surgical wound can lead to severe consequences that affect your quality of life. Our providers can evaluate your wounds and recommend a comprehensive treatment plan. To schedule an appointment at Wound Evolution - Wound Care and Hyperbaric Medicine, call or book online today.