What is the wound closure called when healing is prolonged because the skin or wound edges cannot be approximated?

What is the wound closure called when healing is prolonged because the skin or wound edges cannot be approximated?

• A. Primary intention
• B. Tertiary intention
• C. Delayed primary closure
• D. Secondary intention

Answer: (D)

When wound edges can’t be brought together, healing occurs by secondary intention. In this pattern, the wound is left open and fills in from the base with granulation tissue, then contracts and epithelializes from the edges over time. Because the edges aren’t approximated, healing takes longer and typically results in a larger scar compared with primary closure, where clean edges are sutured or taped together. Delayed primary closure, or tertiary intention, is used when a wound is left open briefly to allow drainage or reduce infection risk and is closed later, not when the edges can’t be approximated from the start. So, prolonged healing due to inability to approximate edges describes secondary intention.

When wound edges can’t be brought together, healing occurs by secondary intention. In this pattern, the wound is left open and fills in from the base with granulation tissue, then contracts and epithelializes from the edges over time. Because the edges aren’t approximated, healing takes longer and typically results in a larger scar compared with primary closure, where clean edges are sutured or taped together. Delayed primary closure, or tertiary intention, is used when a wound is left open briefly to allow drainage or reduce infection risk and is closed later, not when the edges can’t be approximated from the start. So, prolonged healing due to inability to approximate edges describes secondary intention.