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Plastic Surgery106 papers

Postoperative wound infection-superficial

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Overview

Superficial postoperative wound infections occur at the donor site following split-thickness skin grafting (STSG) and other surgical procedures, posing a significant clinical challenge due to delayed healing and potential complications such as cellulitis, abscess formation, and impaired graft take. These infections primarily affect patients undergoing reconstructive surgeries, burn treatments, and various dermatological procedures. Early recognition and management are crucial to prevent progression to deeper infections and to ensure optimal wound healing. Understanding and addressing superficial wound infections is essential for maintaining patient safety and improving surgical outcomes in day-to-day practice 157.

Pathophysiology

Superficial wound infections at donor sites typically arise from contamination during surgery or from endogenous flora. The split-thickness skin graft donor site, characterized by partial-thickness skin removal, exposes underlying dermis and subcutaneous tissue, creating an environment susceptible to bacterial colonization. Common pathogens include Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus species, which can invade the wound through breaks in the skin barrier or during the grafting process 135.

The initial phase involves bacterial adherence and colonization, facilitated by devitalized tissue and local inflammatory responses. Subsequently, the host immune system initiates an inflammatory cascade, recruiting neutrophils and macrophages to clear pathogens. However, if the immune response is overwhelmed or compromised, this can lead to persistent inflammation, tissue necrosis, and the clinical manifestation of infection. Factors such as poor wound hygiene, prolonged surgery time, and underlying systemic conditions like diabetes or immunosuppression further exacerbate the risk 135.

Epidemiology

The incidence of superficial wound infections at donor sites following STSG varies but is generally reported to range from 1% to 10% 17. These infections disproportionately affect patients with compromised immune systems, those undergoing multiple grafting procedures, and those in settings with suboptimal aseptic techniques. Geographic and socioeconomic factors can also influence infection rates, with resource-limited settings often reporting higher incidences due to less stringent infection control measures 7. Trends suggest an increasing awareness and implementation of stringent prophylactic measures, potentially leading to a decline in infection rates over time, though robust longitudinal data are limited 17.

Clinical Presentation

Superficial wound infections typically present with localized signs including erythema, warmth, tenderness, and purulent drainage at the donor site. Patients may report subjective symptoms such as pain, swelling, and a sensation of heaviness. Early detection often relies on clinical judgment, but delayed healing and failure of the graft to take can also signal infection. Red-flag features include systemic symptoms like fever, malaise, and rapid progression of local signs, which necessitate urgent evaluation and intervention 157.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of superficial wound infections involves a combination of clinical assessment and laboratory testing. Key diagnostic criteria include:

  • Clinical Signs: Erythema, warmth, pain, and purulent discharge at the donor site 15.
  • Laboratory Tests:
  • - Wound Culture: Obtain for definitive identification of pathogens and antibiotic sensitivity 13. - Leukocyte Count: Elevated white blood cell count may indicate systemic inflammation 13. - Gram Stain: Rapid assessment of bacterial presence in wound exudate 13.

    Differential Diagnosis:

  • Cellulitis: Distinguished by more diffuse erythema and swelling without purulent drainage 15.
  • Allergic Reactions: Often presents with urticaria, pruritus, and systemic symptoms without purulent discharge 15.
  • Graft Rejection: Characterized by progressive redness, firmness, and eventual graft failure without purulent discharge 15.
  • Management

    Initial Management

  • Wound Care:
  • - Debridement: Remove necrotic tissue and cleanse the wound with sterile saline 15. - Dressing Changes: Use sterile dressings, potentially incorporating negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) for severe cases 810.
  • Antibiotics:
  • - Empiric Therapy: Initiate broad-spectrum antibiotics targeting S. aureus and Streptococcus species (e.g., cephalosporins or clindamycin) 13. - Adjustment Based on Culture Results: Tailor antibiotic therapy according to wound culture and sensitivity results 13.

    Secondary and Refractory Management

  • Advanced Wound Care Products:
  • - Biodegradable Matrices: Consider matrices like NovoSorb® for complex wounds to promote granulation tissue formation 6. - Growth Factors: Use of autologous platelet gel or fibrin sealants to enhance healing (Evidence: Moderate) 3.
  • Surgical Intervention:
  • - Re-grafting: In cases of graft failure, consider re-grafting after infection resolution 15. - Abscess Drainage: If abscess formation occurs, surgical drainage may be necessary 15.

    Contraindications:

  • Severe Allergic Reactions: Avoid certain antibiotics or dressings known to cause allergic responses 15.
  • Complications

  • Deep Infection: Progression to deeper tissue involvement requiring more extensive surgical intervention 15.
  • Graft Failure: Impaired graft take and integration, necessitating re-grafting 15.
  • Systemic Infections: Rare but serious complications including sepsis, particularly in immunocompromised patients 15.
  • Referral Triggers: Persistent fever, systemic symptoms, or failure to respond to initial treatment warrant specialist referral 15.
  • Prognosis & Follow-up

    The prognosis for superficial wound infections is generally favorable with prompt and appropriate management. Key prognostic indicators include early diagnosis, effective antibiotic therapy, and meticulous wound care. Follow-up intervals typically include:
  • Initial Monitoring: Daily assessment for the first week post-diagnosis 15.
  • Subsequent Visits: Weekly evaluations until signs of healing stabilize 15.
  • Long-term Monitoring: Regular check-ups to ensure complete healing and prevent recurrence 15.
  • Special Populations

  • Immunocompromised Patients: Higher risk of infection and slower healing; require closer monitoring and possibly prophylactic measures 15.
  • Elderly Patients: Increased susceptibility to complications; wound care should be meticulous and consider comorbidities 15.
  • Diabetic Patients: Higher incidence of infections due to impaired wound healing; tight glycemic control is essential 15.
  • Key Recommendations

  • Prompt Wound Assessment: Regularly inspect donor sites for signs of infection (Evidence: Strong) 15.
  • Early Antibiotic Therapy: Initiate broad-spectrum antibiotics upon suspicion of infection (Evidence: Strong) 13.
  • Wound Debridement: Perform thorough debridement of necrotic tissue (Evidence: Strong) 15.
  • Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT): Consider NPWT for severe or complex infections (Evidence: Moderate) 810.
  • Culturing and Sensitivity Testing: Obtain wound cultures to guide targeted antibiotic therapy (Evidence: Strong) 13.
  • Optimize Wound Care Products: Utilize advanced wound care matrices for complex cases (Evidence: Moderate) 6.
  • Monitor for Systemic Symptoms: Early referral for systemic symptoms like fever or malaise (Evidence: Moderate) 15.
  • Follow-up Care: Schedule regular follow-up visits to monitor healing progress (Evidence: Moderate) 15.
  • Consider Growth Factor Therapy: Use autologous platelet gel for enhanced healing in refractory cases (Evidence: Moderate) 3.
  • Manage Comorbidities: Address underlying conditions like diabetes and immunosuppression to improve outcomes (Evidence: Moderate) 15.
  • References

    Showing 100 priority papers (full text preferred, most recent first) of 106 indexed.

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Medical sciences (Basel, Switzerland) 2021. link 6 Li H, Lim P, Stanley E, Lee G, Lin S, Neoh D et al.. Experience with NovoSorb® Biodegradable Temporising Matrix in reconstruction of complex wounds. ANZ journal of surgery 2021. link 7 Maduba CC, Nnadozie UU, Modekwe VI, Nwankwo EU. Comparing hospital stay and patient satisfaction in a resource poor setting using conventional and locally adapted negative pressure wound dressing methods in management of leg ulcers with split skin grafts: a comparative prospective study. The Pan African medical journal 2020. link 8 Norman G, Goh EL, Dumville JC, Shi C, Liu Z, Chiverton L et al.. Negative pressure wound therapy for surgical wounds healing by primary closure. The Cochrane database of systematic reviews 2020. link 9 Alkhalifah MK, Almutairi FSH. Optimising Wound Closure Following a Fasciotomy: A narrative review. Sultan Qaboos University medical journal 2019. link 10 Webster J, Liu Z, Norman G, Dumville JC, Chiverton L, Scuffham P et al.. 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    Original source

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      Efficacy of topical heparin spray on donor site wound healing after split thickness skin grafting.Adil F, Memon MA, Khan FAA, Awan A, Siddiqui SU, Piprani FZ et al. Scientific reports (2025)
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      Same-Day Discharge Ambulatory Surgery Centers: The Importance of Preoperative Workup for Aesthetic Surgery Patients.Ziolkowski N, Milkovich J, Ahmad J, Benakopoulos E, Lista F, Chbat T et al. Aesthetic surgery journal (2025)
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      Clinical efficacy of blood derivatives on wound healing: A systematic review and network meta-analysis.Wu Y, Peng G, Wang Y, Chen J, Zhang B, Tang J et al. International wound journal (2024)
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      Hydrosurgical and conventional debridement of burns: randomized clinical trial.Legemate CM, Kwa KAA, Goei H, Pijpe A, Middelkoop E, van Zuijlen PPM et al. The British journal of surgery (2022)
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      Surgical Strategies to Promote Cutaneous Healing.Niederstätter IM, Schiefer JL, Fuchs PC Medical sciences (Basel, Switzerland) (2021)
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      Experience with NovoSorb® Biodegradable Temporising Matrix in reconstruction of complex wounds.Li H, Lim P, Stanley E, Lee G, Lin S, Neoh D et al. ANZ journal of surgery (2021)
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      Negative pressure wound therapy for surgical wounds healing by primary closure.Norman G, Goh EL, Dumville JC, Shi C, Liu Z, Chiverton L et al. The Cochrane database of systematic reviews (2020)
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      Optimising Wound Closure Following a Fasciotomy: A narrative review.Alkhalifah MK, Almutairi FSH Sultan Qaboos University medical journal (2019)
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      Negative pressure wound therapy for surgical wounds healing by primary closure.Webster J, Liu Z, Norman G, Dumville JC, Chiverton L, Scuffham P et al. The Cochrane database of systematic reviews (2019)
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      Skin closure in arthroplasty surgery: Current practice.Barrow J, Divecha H, Board T International wound journal (2018)
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      Effect of Adhesive Strips and Dermal Sutures vs Dermal Sutures Only on Wound Closure: A Randomized Clinical Trial.Custis T, Armstrong AW, King TH, Sharon VR, Eisen DB JAMA dermatology (2015)
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      The use of near-infrared spectroscopy in assessment of viability and monitoring of healthy trajectories in skin tears.Reiter HJ, Andersen C Wounds : a compendium of clinical research and practice (2025)
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      Nonclinical Factors Drive the Majority of 1-Star Yelp Reviews for Plastic Surgeons in 4 Major US Cities.Prasad S, Lynch CG, Barrett C, Thaller S Annals of plastic surgery (2025)
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      Redrawing the surgical line: The role of female surgeon mentorship in shaping female medical students' perceptions of surgery.Lemons M, Vance DT, Mitchell A, Geoffroy HG, Helton EM, Kilgore LJ American journal of surgery (2025)
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      Fasciocutaneous Advancement Flap for Anterior Open Wounds After Primary and Revision Total Knee Arthroplasty.Hong DY, Danford NC, Wu CH, Kadiyala RK Journal of surgical orthopaedic advances (2025)
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      The Effectiveness of PELNACWang X, Li Y, Liu T, Liu C, Lv Y, Liu D et al. Aesthetic plastic surgery (2025)
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      Sociodemographic Status Impacts Ambulatory Outcomes in Lower Extremity Flap Reconstruction.Stanton EW, Manasyan A, Roohani I, Wolfe E, Daar DA, Carey JN Journal of reconstructive microsurgery (2025)
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      Impact of Needle Design and Suture Gauge on Tissue Tearing During Skin Suturing: A Comparative Analysis.Potter CT, Maloney ME, Riopelle AM, Fudem GM, Schanbacher CF Dermatologic surgery : official publication for American Society for Dermatologic Surgery [et al.] (2025)
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      A quantitative analysis of microcirculation during healing of split-thickness skin grafts in standardized full-thickness wounds.Krauß S, Illg C, Held M, Daigeler A, Eisler W Wounds : a compendium of clinical research and practice (2024)
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      Impact of ERAS in breast reconstruction with a latissimus dorsi flap, compared to conventional management.Taba G, Ceccato V, Fernandes O, Michel S, Darrigues L, Girard N et al. Journal of plastic, reconstructive & aesthetic surgery : JPRAS (2023)
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