Introduction

Types of Wound Healing:

Primary Intention Healing:

The least complicated form of wound repair is the healing of a fresh, clean, uninfected surgical incision in which the edges are held in close apposition by surgical sutures. There is minimal death of epithelial and connective tissue cells and no tissue displacement or removal.

Secondary Intention Healing:

In this form of wound healing there is a deficit in the epithelial cell layers and connective tissue caused by either mechanical removal of tissue or necrosis subsequent to infection. There is a more intense inflammatory reaction and the defect is replaced by contractile fibrous scar tissue.

Note:

In reality (and especially in veterinary medicine) many wounds that are sutured heal by a mixture of the above processes because events such as infection, ischaemia or movement of wound edges result in slower wound healing, with the production of more inflammation and granulation tissue than is expected in primary intention healing.

Primary Intention

Second Intention

Granulation Tissue

Review Questions

Back to Prac Classes