Quick Facts - Surgical Wound Management

What are surgical wounds? Surgical wounds encompass several complications, such as surgical site infections (SSIs), wound dehiscence, fistulas, seromas, and hematomas. These wounds make procedures that are already physically and mentally taxing more stressful, further complicating patient outcomes. For this reason, wound care professionals should familiarize themselves with the basics of surgical wound management. This fact sheet will review techniques and strategies for surgical wound management, several pathogens that typically cause SSIs, advanced wound care interventions, and the importance of patient education.