Secondary Intention Healing Research Articles

Efficacy of secondary intention healing for scalp defects-Case series from a single institution.

As surgical techniques evolve, there remains underutilisation of secondary intention healing as a valid reconstruction option. This is largely due to concerns regarding inferiority of wound cosmesis, increased downtime with wound healing and infection risk (Dermatol Surg. 2020; 46(12): 1492-97). We sought to look at the outcome of secondary intention healing in a cohort of patients seen at a private dermatology practice with small to medium sized scalp defects. All patients completed a satisfaction survey that further evaluated its feasibility. Excellent cosmetic outcome was noted with secondary intention healing for small to medium scalp defects, specifically in patients with thinning scalps that allowed healing without patchy alopecia. Secondary intention healing should be considered as a reconstructive option for scalp defects, especially in the right patient cohort.

Outcomes for 15 cats with bilateral sacroiliac luxation treated with transiliosacral toggle suture repair.

To report a surgical technique and outcomes of transiliosacral toggle suture repair to treat feline bilateral sacroiliac luxation/fracture (SILF). Retrospective study. Fifteen client-owned cats. The medical records of cats with bilateral SILF treated using a transiliosacral toggle suture repair were reviewed. Short- and medium-term outcomes were assessed through standard postoperative clinical evaluation and radiographs, including measurements of angle of deviation (AoD), percentage of reduction (PoR), and pelvic canal width ratio (PCWR). Long-term functional follow up was obtained from a questionnaire derived from the Feline Musculoskeletal Pain Index (FMPI). Fifteen cats were enrolled retrospectively, among which 13 survived to discharge. One minor wound complication, treated by secondary intention healing, was encountered. No major complication was reported. Immediately postoperatively, the mean absolute PoR values were 88.1 ± 11.2% and 91 ± 11.6% on the right and left side, respectively. The mean absolute AoD was 3.1 ± 2.8°, and the mean PCWR was 1.24 ± 0.08. The medium-term radiographic follow up at a median of 205 (71-682) days postsurgery revealed the good stability of the repair. Excellent functional outcomes were identified upon the analysis of 12 long-term questionnaires at a median of 365 (119-798) days postsurgery. Anatomic reduction was satisfactory and comparable with previously described techniques with good implant placement documented. Functional outcomes based on FMPI-derived questionnaires were good to excellent in our population. Transiliosacral toggle suture stabilization of bilateral SILF was associated with good outcomes in cats. Further studies are required to compare biomechanical properties and outcomes between this technique and previously described transiliosacral stabilization.

Practical Review on Delayed Primary Closure: Basic Science and Clinical Applications.

Wound healing complications present a significant burden on both patients and health-care systems, and understanding wound healing principles is crucial across medical and surgical specialties to help mitigate such complications. One of these longstanding principles, specifically delayed primary closure (DPC), described as mechanically closing a wound after several days of secondary intention healing, lacks clear consensus on its definition, indications, and outcomes. This practical review examines wound healing fundamentals, focusing on DPC, its execution, indications, and comparative outcomes. A PubMed literature search was conducted to retrieve studies on DPC. Inclusion criteria included comparative studies assessing outcomes and complications between DPC and other closure techniques, as well as articles investigating DPC's underlying physiology. Twenty-three comparative studies met inclusion criteria. DPC wounds have significantly higher partial pressure of oxygen, higher blood flow, and higher rates of collagen synthesis and remodeling activity, all of which help explain DPC wounds' superior mechanical strength. DPC seems most beneficial in contaminated wounds, such as complicated appendectomies, postcardiac surgery wounds, and complicated abdominal wall reconstructions, where it has been associated with lower rates of surgical site infections. This practical review provides an evidence-based approach to DPC, its physiology, technique, and indications. Based on the existing literature, the authors recommend that DPC wounds should be dressed in saline/betadine soaks, changed and irrigated daily, with delayed closure lasting between 3 and 5 days or until the infection has resolved. The clearest indications for DPC are in the context of contaminated abdominal surgery and sternal wound dehiscence post cardiac surgery.

Ozonated sunflower oil in wound healing in a cat: Case report

Therapies with the use of ozone have been increasingly applied in both human and veterinary medicine due to its high oxygenating and antioxidant power. These factors stimulate the formation of deoxygenating substances within pathogens, which release oxygen into oxyhemoglobins, increasing its migration to epithelial tissues, thus being used in fungal, bacterial, viral and skin lesions. This work aims to report a clinical case of a feline whose veterinary medical clinic’s routine utilized ozone therapy in the primary treatment via ozonized sunflower oil in the tissue repair process. This method can help with the dermal secondary intention healing, having a good acceptance, not causing discomfort or stress to the animal and contributing to its well-being.

Endoscopic Pilonidal Sinus Treatment: Preliminary Results, Learning Curve and Comparison with Standard Open Approach.

Background: Pilonidal sinus (PNS) is a common disease which can lead to complications including infection and abscess formation. Different surgical approaches have been suggested, based on primary or secondary wound closure intention healing or endoscopic treatment (EPSiT). The aim of this study is to verify the superior outcomes of EPSiT, especially in comparison with the traditional open approach, and discuss the operators' learning curve. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted identifying all the patients who underwent surgical treatment for PNS with EPSiT technique between 2019 and 2022 and with open technique between 2002 and 2022. We divided patients in two groups: open procedure (group 1) and EPSiT (group 2). We considered a p value < 0.05 as statistically significant. Results: The mean operative time was 58.6 ± 23.7 min for group 1 and 42.8 ± 17.4 min for group 2 (p < 0.01). The mean hospital stay was 2.6 ± 1.7 days for group 1 patients and of 0.8 ± 0.4 days for group 2 (p < 0.01). Complete healing was obtained in 18.7 ± 5.6 days for group 1 and 38.3 ± 23.5 days for group 2 (p < 0.01). Recurrences were of 23.4% for group 1 and 5.4% for group 2 (p = 0.03). Conclusions: EPSiT is a minimally invasive and effective approach for the treatment of pilonidal cyst that can be safely performed in pediatric patients with promising results concerning aesthetic outcome and pain control, and with a rapid and less complicated recovery compared to traditional open procedures.

Appearance-related psychosocial distress after facial non-melanoma skin cancer surgery: A 1-year prospective study.

Patients undergoing Mohs Micrographic Surgery (MMS) for facial non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) experience appearance-related psychosocial distress due to its post-surgical esthetic changes. However, little is known about its development over a longer follow-up period. This study prospectively assessed appearance-related psychosocial distress in patients undergoing MMS for facial NMSC over a 1-year follow up period. Patients who had MMS for facial NMSC between September 2020 and October 2021 were invited to answer the FACE-Q Skin Cancer - appearance-related psychosocial distress scale preoperatively, 2weeks, 6months, and 1year after surgery. A total of 217 patients completed the questionnaire at baseline. In addition, 158 (72.8%), 139 (64.1%), and 120 (55.3%) questionnaires were successfully answered 2weeks, 6months, and 1year after surgery, respectively. Patients with a peripheral lesion presented higher appearance-related psychosocial distress scores at baseline than patients with a central lesion (p=0.02). There was a decreasing trend in appearance-related psychosocial distress over time, but without a significant result (baseline-2-week; p=0.73, 2-week-6-month; p=0.80, 6-month-1-year; p=0.17, baseline-1-year; p=0.23). Patients with secondary intention healing and graft reconstruction methods experienced more appearance-related psychosocial distress over time than patients with primary wound closures (p=0.03). Patients still experience appearance-related psychosocial distress 1year after MMS. These patients may benefit from targeted counseling. Additionally, predictors of more appearance-related psychosocial distress, such as secondary intention healing and graft reconstruction methods, may benefit from additional psychological care.

Volume assessment of the external contour around immediate implant with or without immediate tooth-like crown provisionalization: A digital intraoral scans study

PurposesTo examine differences between immediate and delayed dental implant loading in maxillary aesthetic areas. MethodsIn this retrospective controlled analysis, 43 subjects who underwent immediate placement of the dental implant in a post-extraction socket were ranked into either immediate (24 implants loaded with non-occlusal tooth-like profile provisional prostheses fabricated by virtual diagnostic impressions and an in-office dental milling machine) or delayed group (19 implants loaded with conventional cover screws and secondary intention healing). Intraoperatively and then four months later, scans of the external layers were acquired with an optical scanner. The width of the alveolar crest and Jemt papilla index were acquired. Non-parametric tests were applied with a level of significance set at p < 0.01. Results: In both groups, the volumes and areas showed significant reductions from the baseline to the 4-month survey. Reductions in volume appeared to be statistically different between the two groups (−39±31 mm3 for the immediate and 89 ± 30 mm3 for the delayed group). The final Jemt papilla index appeared significantly different between the immediate (mesial, 2.5 and, distal, 3) and delayed groups (2 for both aspects). ConclusionsImmediate provisionalization significantly reduced volume loss and area shrinkage at the external layer when data were compared to a delayed rehabilitation strategy.

Dehydrated Human Amnion/Chorion Membrane Allograft for Postoperative Wounds Following Mohs Micrographic Surgery: A Retrospective Comparative Evaluation

Introduction. Defects that remain after MMS cannot always be repaired immediately. When closure is not feasible, wounds are left to heal by secondary intention and may take weeks to close. In such cases, the use of an allograft that stimulates endogenous wound healing pathways may be desirable. Objective. This retrospective study assessed whether the use of dHACM allograft after MMS led to a statistically significant improvement in post-Mohs wound closure rates compared with secondary intention healing. Methods. This study evaluated 80 patients who underwent MMS and compared time to complete healing between wounds treated with dHACM allografts (n = 40) and wounds healed by secondary intention (n = 40). Wounds were assessed every 2 weeks, and photographs were taken. Statistical analysis was conducted. Results. Average time to complete wound healing was significantly reduced with the use of dHACM allograft compared with traditional secondary intention healing (5.2 weeks and 6.5 weeks, respectively; P = .01). Conclusion. The use of dHACM allograft resulted in more rapid wound healing, and this allograft is a potential alternative to traditional secondary intention healing methods. Further studies are needed to reinforce the results of this pilot study.

Role of local flaps in the prevention of soft tissue necrosis after transoral robotic surgery for tonsillar cancer

ObjectiveSoft tissue necrosis (STN) can occur after transoral robotic surgery (TORS) with radiation therapy (RT). We investigated the usefulness of local flap reconstruction for preventing STN after TORS in patients with tonsillar cancer. MethodsThis case-control study retrospectively reviewed clinicopathological data of patients who underwent TORS for tonsillar cancer at a tertiary referral center. The incidence of STN was compared in patients who underwent secondary intention healing or local flap reconstruction, and factors predicting STN were identified. ResultsSTN occurred in 20 (25%) of 80 patients in the study. The incidence of STN was higher in the secondary intention healing than the flap reconstruction group. Mucositis grade (odds ratio [OR] 3.694, p = 0.02), RT dose (OR 4.667, p = 0.001), and secondary intention healing (OR 14.985, p = 0.035) were predictive factors for STN. ConclusionFlap reconstruction can prevent STN after TORS with RT in patients with tonsillar cancer. The use of local flaps preserves the minimally invasive nature of TORS.

Patterns of Surgical Recurrence in Patients with Hidradenitis Suppurativa

Background: Surgery is an essential part of hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) treatment. Understanding and reducing surgical recurrence are crucial to obtaining the best results in patients’ treatment. Objective: The aim of the study was to characterize surgical recurrences in a cohort of patients with HS treated with wide excision and second-intention healing. Methods: A prospective nested case-control study was conducted. A cohort of patients with HS treated with wide excision and second-intention healing was monitored for 68 weeks. The surgical procedure was classified as case (recurrence) or control (no recurrence). The type of recurrence was classified according to the elementary lesion in tunnel or abscess and inflammatory nodule (AN) recurrence. Sociodemographic and clinical data likely related to recurrence and the type of recurrence were evaluated. Results: Sixty-three patients were included, receiving a total of 82 surgical procedures. The mean age of the patients was 36.18 years, and the surgical site presented a Hurley stage II severity in 79.26% (65/82) of the interventions. Tunnel recurrence was observed in 8.5% (7/82) and AN recurrence in 15.85% (13/82) of the interventions. Obesity was associated with a higher risk of recurrence, for both tunnel and AN recurrence. Hurley III at the surgical site, a history of pilonidal sinus, and higher International Hidradenitis Suppurativa Severity Score System (IHS4) after surgery and at week 68 increased the risk of tunnel recurrence. Conclusion: We propose classifying surgical recurrence based on the elemental type of lesion. Tunnel recurrence could originate in the depth of the surgical scar and could be associated with both surgical site factors and inflammatory load. AN recurrence could originate in the borders of the surgical scar and may particularly benefit from preoperative ultrasound.

Secondary Intention Healing After Mohs Surgery During COVID-19.

Morris, Hailey C. BS*; Simmons-O’Brien, Eva F. MD*; Miller, Stanley J. MD*; Orlinsky, Diane J. MD* Author Information

Assessment of Pain, Healing Time, and Wound Contraction in Postoperative Auricular Defects Healing Secondarily With and Without the Use of a Porcine Xenograft, a Pilot Study.

Postoperative auricular defects heal well with secondary intention healing (SIH); however, potential complications include postoperative pain, perichondritis, and chondritis. To compare postoperative pain and wound healing in auricular defects healing by secondary intention with and without the placement of a porcine xenograft. Twenty-one subjects were enrolled in the study. The primary outcome was self-reported pain, measured on a 0 to 10 scale for 14 postprocedure days. Secondary outcomes included time to greater than 90% of reepithelialization and degree of wound contraction. There was a 1 to 2 point difference in median pain scores between the porcine graft and control groups during postoperative days 4 to 7, 12, and 13. Time to 90% or greater reepithelialization was not statistically different between groups (p = .94). The average wound contraction was 34.1% for the porcine group and 34.0% for the control group (p = .95). In this pilot study, overall pain scores were low in both groups. Placement of a porcine xenograft resulted in a slight reduction of median pain compared with traditional SIH. Patients in the control group were more likely to require analgesics. Similar rates of reepithelialization and degree of wound contracture were observed.

Topical Hydrogen Peroxide Promotes Secondary Intention Healing.

Sauvageau, Andrew P. MD*; Moyer, Jeffrey MD, FACS†; Harms, Kelly L. MD, PhD* Author Information

Secondary Autologous Fat Grafting for the Treatment of Chin Necrosis as a Consequence of Prone Position in COVID-19 Patients.

Due to the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, an increasing number of ill patients have been admitted to intensive care unit requiring mechanical ventilation. Although prone positioning is considered beneficial, long periods in this position may induce important complications, including pressure ulcers in high-risk and uncommon body areas. We report five cases of pressure ulcer necrosis of the chin in coronavirus disease 2019 patients as a consequence of mechanical ventilation in prone positioning using autologous fat grafting (AFG) as a secondary technique. A series of five patients with secondarily-healed chin necrosis treated by AFG between February and June 2020 were reviewed. All patients had been treated initially with surgical debridement followed by conservative treatment. Secondary AFG was performed to reduce patient's pain, improve chin contour-projection, and minimize cosmetic sequelae and scarring. Patient satisfaction was assessed using a five-point Likert scale (0-4). Vancouver scale was used to evaluate the chin scars clinically. The average amount of fat injected into the chin area was 8.1 ± 2.0 ml. At 6-month follow-up, all patients were mostly satisfied (average Likert-scale 3.2 ± 0.4). Based on the Vancouver scale, improvement of the chin scar from 9.5 ± 0.8 to 4.7 ± 0.8 was found. We report a positive experience with secondary AFG for correction of painful and unaesthetic scarring and contour abnormality following surgical debridement and secondary-intention healing of chin pressure ulcers.

Simple Continuous Versus Cushing Suture for Jejunal end-to-end Anastomosis in the Dogs: a Comparative Study

For the anastomosis of canine jejunum, single-layer appositional closures are preferred to inverting or everting patterns, whereas inverted or everted closures require second-intention healing and increase the risk of luminal stenosis or anastomosis site leakage. Nevertheless, following simple continuous sutures, the dehiscence rates remain high. Our objectives were to compare the appositional simple continuous sutures with the inverting Cushing sutures, investigating: suture resistance, bursting pressure, lumen diameters on canine cadavers, as well as survival and complication rates in canine clinical cases. Our ex vivo experimental results indicate that: the efforts to which sutures are submitted to in anastomoses are minimal for the Cushing suture, the differences between the bursting pressure measured for the two types of sutures indicate the superiority of the Cushing suture, the difference in size of the anastomoses’ lumen between the two sutures are minimal. The retrospective analysis of intestinal end-to-end anastomoses (123 - simple continuous sutures and 388 - Cushing sutures) revealed 7 anastomotic complications, all following simple continuous anastomoses. Our results reveal the superiority of the Cushing suture, compared to simple continuous suture, which emphasizes the fact that the Cushing suture should be considered a good option when performing end-to-end jejunal anastomoses in canine patient.

Dermal Matrix Graft Effects on Facial Growth in a Veau-Wardill-Kilner Palatoplasty Model: An Experimental Study in Rats.

The primary goal of palatoplasty is the restoration of normal speech, that can be aimed by, among many procedures, lengthening the palate through the pushback technique; one of its complications is abnormal maxillary growth. The main factor affecting facial growth in CLP patients is believed by many to be the palatoplasty—due to the large scar retraction resulting from some surgical techniques. The non-crosslinked two-layer bioabsorbable collagen matrix Mucograft™ (Geistlich Pharma AG, Wolhusen, Switzerland) is a potential tool to aid in wound closure in a second-intention healing situation. The objective of this work was to test the use of an acellular dermal matrix (Mucograft®) in an experimental model of Veau–Wardill–Kilner palatoplasty, as a tool to reduce scar retraction of the denuded palatine mucosa. Twenty-four 3-week-old male Wistar rats were used. The animals were randomly divided into two groups. In the control group, an excision was made with bone exposure in the palate, simulating the defect left in the Veau–Wardill–Kilner palatoplasty. In the intervention group, the same procedure was performed, and the area of denuded palatine bone was treated with a bioabsorbable collagen matrix (Mucograft®). For data collection, 9 weeks after surgery (12 weeks of life), the animals were euthanized by excessive anesthetic dosage. Maxillary growth, macroscopic appearance of the scar, pain, and bleeding were evaluated. There were significant statistical differences between the groups for palate length growth (7.6 mm + −0.38 mm vs 5.5 mm + −0.36 mm, P = .009) and for palate width growth (1.47 mm + −0.8 mm vs −0.09 mm + −0.55 mm, P = .001), favoring dermal matrix group compared to controls. Whereas for pain and bleeding, there were no differences between the groups. The use of dermal matrix in rats with an area of bone denudation on the palate increases maxillary length and width growth patterns. Besides, it does not increase pain, bleeding, or post-operative complications.

Secondary Intention Healing of Nasal Ala and Tip Defects: A Simple and Valuable Treatment Option.

PurposeTo investigate the cosmetic outcomes of secondary intention healing of small (<1.5cm) nasal ala and tip defects.Patients and MethodsFrom August 2017 to October 2020, 42 patients with nasal reconstructions using secondary intention healing were included. Defects after excision ranged from 0.5cm×0.7cm to 1.2cm×1.5cm in size. Foam dressing covering the wounds was changed every 3 to 5 days. Wound esthetic outcomes were graded as excellent, good, acceptable, and poor based on definitions described in the literature.ResultsAll 42 wounds healed in 3 to 4 weeks, with uniform color, no obvious adverse reactions and high patient satisfaction. Esthetic evaluation: 16 excellent cases (38.1%), 19 good cases (45.2%), 7 acceptable cases (16.7%) and 0 poor cases.ConclusionSecondary intention healing of small nasal tip and ala defects in Chinese yielded satisfactory esthetic outcomes and should be an integral part of the surgeon’s reconstructive algorithm.

Healing of ExcisionAl wounds on Lower legs by Secondary intention (HEALS) cohort study. Part 1: a multicentre prospective observational cohort study in patients without planned compression.

There is no agreed treatment pathway following excision of keratinocyte cancer (KC). Compression therapy is considered beneficial for secondary intention healing on the lower leg; however, there is a lack of supportive evidence. To plan a randomized controlled trial (RCT), suitable data are needed. We report a multicentre prospective observational cohort study in this patient population with the intention of informing a future trial design. To estimate the time to healing in wounds healing by secondary intention without planned postoperative compression, following excision of KC on the lower leg; to characterize the patient population, including factors affecting healing; and to assess the incidence of complications. This was a multicentre prospective observational cohort study. Inclusion criteria were age ≥ 18 years with planned excision of KC on the lower leg and healing by secondary intention, an ankle-brachial pressure index (ABPI) of ≥ 0.8; and written informed consent. Exclusion criteria included planned excision with primary closure, skin graft or flap; compression therapy for another indication; planned compression; inability of patient to receive, comply with or tolerate high compression; or a suspected diagnosis other than KC. This study recruited 58 patients from 9 secondary care dermatology clinics. In the analysis population (n = 53), mean age was 81 years (range 25-97 years), median time to healing was 81 days (95% CI 73-92) and 45 patients (84.9%) had healing of the wound at the 6-month follow-up. The healing prognostic factors were wound parameters and ABPI. Wound infections occurred in 16 participants (30.2%). Four patients (7.5%) were admitted to hospital; three because of an infection and one because of a fall. The collected data have informed the RCT preparation. A relatively high proportion (7.5-15%) of unhealed wounds, infection and hospital admissions demonstrate the need for clearly establishing potentially effective treatments to improve outcomes for this population.

Secondary healing over NovoSorb® biodegradable temporising matrix (BTM) in the unwell patient: a case report

NovoSorb® (PolyNovo Biomaterials Pty Ltd, 2/320 Lorimer Street, Port Melbourne, Victoria, 3207, Australia) biodegradable temporising matrix (BTM) is a synthetic dermal substitute that has provided an alternate approach to dermal loss and reconstruction to the classical reconstructive ladder. Biodegradable temporising matrix is designed to be used in a two-stage process in conjunction with skin grafting and provides an intermediate step where the wound bed is improved prior to definitive grafting.^1^ To date, there are few cases that have documented secondary intention healing over BTM and these have involved small areas in physiologically well individuals. This case represents the largest area of healing via secondary intention over BTM we are aware of in the literature, which resulted from continued deferment of the secondary grafting procedures due to the patient’s fluctuating acute medical status.

Validity and Reliability of Two Digital Wound Measurement Tools after Surgery in Patients with Hidradenitis Suppurativa

Background: After excision surgery in patients with hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), wounds are usually left open for secondary intention healing. To evaluate wound healing, reliable wound measurement is important. However, digital wound measurement tools for measuring the surface area are validated for small wounds located on flat or mildly convex body surfaces in studies, often powered inadequately. Up until now, a validated digital measurement tool to accurately measure wounds on all body surfaces, including the intertriginous areas, was not available. Objectives: The aim of this study was to validate two digital wound measurement tools for the measurement of the surface area of larger and concave wounds, using surgical wounds in patients with HS. Methods: This prospective observational validation study included consecutive patients with HS undergoing excision surgery in the Department of Dermatology of the Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam. Wound measurements using a ruler, the tracing method, the inSight® 3-dimensional (3D) device, and the ImitoWound app were performed by three investigators. The intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) for concurrent validity and the intra- and inter-rater reliability were analyzed. The standard error of measurement (SEm) and minimal detectable change were calculated, and Bland-Altman plots were constructed to determine the limits of agreement. Results: Twenty patients with a total of 52 wounds were included. The wounds had a mean surface of 18.7 cm2. The inSight® 3D device showed an ICC of 0.987 for concurrent validity, 0.998 for intra-rater reliability, and 0.997 for inter-rater reliability. The ICCs from the ImitoWound application were 0.974, 0.978, and 0.964 for concurrent validity, intra-rater reliability, and inter-rater reliability, respectively. The SEms for intra- and inter-rater reliability were 0.95 cm2 and 1.11 cm2 for the inSight® 3D device and 3.33 cm2 and 3.51 cm2 for the ImitoWound app, respectively. Conclusion: Both the inSight® 3D device and the ImitoWound app demonstrated excellent concurrent validity and reliability for the surface measurements of concave wound, enabling these tools to be used reliably in clinical research and daily practice. Furthermore, it paves the way for broader application, such as telemonitoring of wound care at home.