Complications of Surgical Wound Infection

When you undergo surgery, your surgeon makes an incision in your skin. This incision is also called a surgical wound, according to the National Institutes of Health. The complications of an infection of the surgical wound might put your recovery at risk.

Illness

• A surgical wound infection can make you ill. In addition to seeing redness and swelling at the incision, you might also experience complications like a fever and shaking chills.

Other Complications

• If a surgical wound infection moves deeper into your tissue, it could interfere with the original surgery. For example, in spinal fusion, an infection can require not only the surgical wound to be reopened for draining, but also any plates or screws placed during the surgery could need to be moved as well.

Cost

• According to US News and World Report, another complication of a surgical wound infection is a longer hospital stay, and the need for more treatment, both of which will increase the cost of your surgery.

Treatment

• Doctors can treat a surgical wound infection by prescribing antibiotics. They can also drain pus and other liquids from the incision site.

Prevention

• Your doctor might try to prevent surgical wound infection and its complications by giving you antibiotics before you undergo surgery. Keeping the wound clean and changing the dressing properly can also prevent infection.