Background: The management of dirty abdominal wounds has remained a challenge to surgeons because of the associated complications. Objective: This study was undertaken to determine the outcome of primary closure of dirty abdominal wounds in children. Design: A retrospective study (between 1st January, 2006 and 5th May, 2009) on the outcome of the primary closure of dirty abdominal wounds in children. Setting: Paediatric Surgery Division, Department of Surgery, Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu. Materials and Methods: Cases of dirty abdominal wounds managed during the study period were retrieved from the medical records. Information regarding the age, sex, diagnosis, treatment, type of abdominal wound closure, duration of stay in hospital, complications arising from the abdominal wounds, and outcome was obtained and documented. Results: A total of 120 cases of dirty abdominal wound were managed during the study period. However, 90 case notes were retrieved and further evaluated for the proposed study. The age range of the patients studied was 2 months to 14 years. Males were 48 (53.3%), while females were 42 (46.7%). All the cases were acute abdominal emergencies. Differential diagnosis of dirty abdominal wounds managed during the study period are ruptured appendicitis/appendiceal abscess 30 (33.3%), intussusception 19 (21.1%), strangulated inguinoscrotal hernia 16 (17.8%), typhoid ileal perforation 14 (15.6%), and abdominal injuries 11 (12.2%). Healing without complications was seen in 70 (77.8%) patients, while complications occurred in 20 (22.2%) patients. The complications that occurred were wound infections 17 (68%), wound dehiscence 3 (12%), incisional hernia 3 (12%), enterocutaneous fistula 2 (8%), and duration of hospitalization 7-55 days and mortality of 4 (4.4%) was recorded.