Healing by secondary intention

Healing of wounds by secondary intention is frequently an appropriate alternative to surgical closure of wounds. The determination of which wounds are to be allowed to heal secondarily requires knowledge of the biology of wound healing as well as the likely regional effects of wound contraction. The decision as to which wounds are allowed to heal secondarily versus those that require primary closure is based on location, confidence of completeness of tumor excision, depth of the wound, and characteristics of surrounding skin. Often it is appropriate to allow a wound to heal secondarily as an initial strategy and then to have it revised at a later date.