Disclaimer: This article is intended solely for informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice.
The days and weeks following surgery are an important part of recovery, and careful wound care is necessary even after a patient has been discharged home. Surgical wounds vary considerably: some are closed with stitches, staples, adhesive strips, or tissue adhesive and heal with their edges together, while others may be deliberately left partly or completely open and require more intensive dressing care. Although general wound care principles apply, patients should always prioritize their surgeon’s instructions for postoperative care for a surgical wound (American College of Surgeons [ACS], 2026).
Before discharge, it is important for patients to understand exactly how their wound should be managed at home, including how and when to clean it, whether it needs a dressing, when dressings should be changed, what activities should be avoided, when stitches or staples will be removed, and whom to contact if any concerns arise. Research involving 270 surgical patients found that patients preferred receiving both verbal and written wound-care information from medical and nursing staff. Patients who were invited to participate in wound-care decisions were also substantially more likely to feel capable of managing their wounds after discharge (Tobiano et al., 2023).
Good hygiene is a basic part of postoperative care for the surgical wound. The ACS advises washing visibly dirty hands with soap and water and otherwise using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer before touching the wound or changing a dressing. If instructed to clean the incision, soap and water may be used as directed. Avoid routinely applying hydrogen peroxide, rubbing alcohol, or strong iodine preparations to an open wound because these products may damage healing tissue (ACS, 2026). Research on wound management similarly notes that wounds may be cleansed with normal saline or tap water and that hydrogen peroxide and concentrated povidone-iodine can cause tissue damage (Powers et al., 2016).
Dressings help protect a wound and maintain the moisture balance needed for healing. A wound should generally be kept moist enough to support new cell growth without becoming excessively wet. Different dressings are designed for different levels of drainage, so products and topical treatments should not be changed or added unless directed by a physician. The appropriate type of dressing depends on the condition of the wound and the amount of fluid it produces (Powers et al., 2016).
Patients should also protect the wound from unnecessary stress. Postoperative instructions should include information about exercise, lifting, bathing, and returning to work. In particular, patients should not soak the wound or swim until it is safe to do so (ACS, 2026). Healing time varies according to the type of wound and the patient’s overall health. Conditions such as diabetes, smoking, immune suppression, and some medications can slow healing (ACS, 2026).
Daily monitoring of the surgical wound is necessary during postoperative recovery, and any increasing pain, worsening or spreading redness, unusual or increasing drainage, pus, separation of the wound edges, persistent bleeding, or fever should prompt a medical evaluation. Infection may also present with delayed healing, increased wound fluid, unpleasant odor, tenderness, or increasing wound size (Powers et al., 2016). The ACS advises contacting a healthcare professional for concerning drainage, bleeding that does not stop with firm pressure, red streaks around the wound, or a temperature of 101°F (38.3°C) or higher.
References
- American College of Surgeons. (2026). Wound home care. https://www.facs.org/for-patients/recovering-from-surgery/home-skills-for-patients/wound-management/wound-home-care/
- Powers, J. G., Higham, C., Broussard, K., & Phillips, T. J. (2016). Wound healing and treating wounds: Chronic wound care and management. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 74(4), 607–625. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaad.2015.08.070
- Tobiano, G., Walker, R. M., Chaboyer, W., Carlini, J., Webber, L., Latimer, S., Kang, E., Eskes, A. M., O’Connor, T., Perger, D., & Gillespie, B. M. (2023). Patient experiences of, and preferences for, surgical wound care education. International Wound Journal, 20, 1687–1699. https://doi.org/10.1111/iwj.14030