Impaired wound healing means that a wound heals slowly, incompletely or with complications. It can follow surgery or an injury. Possible contributing factors include infection, poor circulation, diabetes, smoking, excessive tension on the wound and certain medicines.
Before surgery, individual risks and ways of reducing them are discussed. Careful surgery and aftercare can reduce risk but cannot guarantee uncomplicated healing. Medication should only be changed in consultation with a doctor.
Increasing redness, warmth, pain, pus, fever or the wound opening up requires prompt medical assessment. Treatment depends on the cause and may involve wound care, relieving pressure or tension, medication or another procedure.