What is tertiary intention in wound healing?

Tertiary intention is a method of wound healing that involves allowing a wound to heal by secondary intention, but then surgically approximating the wound edges once the wound bed is clean and free of infection. This method is often used in cases of large or complex wounds that cannot be closed primarily.

The steps involved in tertiary intention wound healing are as follows:

1. The wound is allowed to heal by secondary intention, which means that it is left open to the air and allowed to granulate and epithelialize.

2. Once the wound bed is clean and free of infection, the wound edges are surgically approximated.

3. The wound is then dressed and monitored for signs of infection or complications.

Tertiary intention wound healing can be a successful method of treating large or complex wounds, but it is important to note that it can take longer to heal than other methods, such as primary or secondary intention wound healing.