What is Healing By Second Intention?
Occasionally, a wound is allowed to heal in by itself without stitches. This is referred to as healing by second intention. In certain areas of the body, nature will heal a wound as nicely as a surgical procedure involving stitches. In other areas of the body, healing by second intention is avoided since unacceptable scars can result. Use of this option for healing will depend on the size and location of your wound following surgery. If a wound is allowed to heal by itself, the dressing must be changed every day until healing is complete. The surgical staff will teach you how to change the dressing and will give you printed instructions. If a wound is allowed to heal by second intention, it usually heals in four to eight weeks, depending on the size of the wound and on how quickly an individual tends to heal.
Healing by second intention involves allowing the wound to heal by itself. This offers observation of the wound as it heals, after removal of a difficult tumor. There are certain areas of the body where a wound will heal just as well naturally as it would in a further surgical procedure. Sometimes a wound will be left to heal by second intention, with the knowledge that if the resulting scar is unacceptable, some form of reparative surgery can be performed at a later date.
