Patient Satisfaction Improves With Delayed Primary Closure of Dehiscence

Abstract

In 2014, nearly 15.1 million people chose to undergo elective cosmetic procedures. Cosmetic surgical procedures all involve risks, compromises, and complications. Regardless of a physician’s efforts to limit complications, spontaneous wound opening or wound dehiscence remains one of the most common to occur. Cosmetic surgery, perhaps more than any other subspecialty of medicine, walks a precarious balance of tension in effort to reduce laxity and elevate ptotic tissues. Historically, dehiscence with wound exposure more than 6.0 hours after spontaneous wound opening is managed conservatively with proper cleansing and dressing changes, with or without empiric antibiotics. Our research sought to determine whether delayed primary closure of a cosmetic wound dehiscence is a safe and viable option to improve patient care and satisfaction. A retrospective case evaluation, patients survey, and statistical evaluation revealed improved satisfaction with delayed primary closure of dehiscent wounds.