Caring for Surgical Wounds in Children : Tips from Ankura Hospital Experts

How to Care for Surgical Wounds in Children

“Every child gets cuts and scrapes that can often be treated at home by parents. However, severe injuries may require hospitalization or stitches.”

Surgical Wound  

A cut made through the skin during surgery is called an incision. Another name for it is a surgical wound. Some incisions are small, others are long. 

Most of us assume that wounds result from injuries. However, even well-maintained surgical cuts are wounds. Those include surgical incision sites or sites where drains or tubes are inserted into the body. 

The skin, the largest organ in the body, protects against surface-dwelling microbes. As a result, anything that breaks this skin- barrier is considered a wound through which germs could penetrate the body and cause infections. The deeper, larger, or dirtier a wound is, the more dangerous it can be, warranting better care.

Which Wounds Require Surgical Care?

Your child’s skin may experience cuts, bruises, and scratches due to injuries. Stitches or staples may be necessary for large or deep wounds. The way cuts are treated depends on a number of variables, including their location, depth, and mechanism of injury.

Sometimes, cuts will heal on their own, without additional medical treatment. For serious wounds, healthcare providers use sutures (stitches), staples, surgical glue or cleansing and bandaging techniques. Wound healing is a process. First, new red healing tissue builds up in the bottom. Then new skin grows in from the edges and covers the red tissue. 

Your child’s wound will heal faster if you create the best conditions for new tissue to grow, which includes maintaining hygiene, prevention of infection and timely contacting healthcare providers when needed.

How to Care for a Surgical Wound?

Wash your hands- Hand washing is the most important thing you and your child’s caretakers can do to avoid infection. Use an alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water. Cleanse both before and after handling the wound.

Keep a clean dressing on your child’s wound- Dressings prevent infection and protect the wound from harm. Additionally, they help in absorbing fluid that may harm the surrounding skin as it drains from the incision. Dressings also reduce pain by preventing exposure to external environment.

Injury prevention- Prevent further trauma or harm to the wound. Discourage touching or scratching a healing wound.

Nutrition- Your child’s body is under additional strain when they have a wound. They require more nutrients during the repair. Ensure your child eats nutritious food, so that their bodies get adequate proteins and energy needed to heal. 

• Proteins help in the repair of muscles and skin.
• Carbohydrates provide the energy needed to heal.
• Vitamins and Minerals boost immunity and hasten healing.
• Milk and other dairy products are good sources of carbohydrates and protein.
• Water replaces fluids lost by draining wounds.

Initially, medical professionals assess a wound according to its risk of infection:

Clean wounds or those free of germs, are easier to treat because they have a lower chance of becoming infected.

Dirty or infected wounds, such as deep cuts, scrapes from soiled surfaces or abscesses require specialized care and observation to avoid and treat infection.

Care of Surgical Wounds at Home

It takes time for wounds to heal. It takes weeks for the body to produce new tissue. Therefore, proper home care is indicated to reduce the risk of scarring and prevent infection.

You will be given instructions from the doctor on how to care for your child until the wound heals.

Keep the wound covered with a fresh dressing. You will be instructed by a doctor or nurse on how to change the dressing and how often to do so.

Check with your healthcare provider regarding cleansing and bathing your child after discharge. 

Your child should not swim or bathe in the tub until your doctor permits. If dirt from the water enters the wound, it may become infected. Furthermore, excessive moisture might cause a wound to pull apart.

Refrain from picking at or scratching scabs. While the skin behind a scab heals, it may itch, but picking or scratching can tear the new skin away. The wound may leave a worse scar and take longer to heal.

Keep pets away from the wound.

Our bodies need vitamins and minerals to recover. While the wound is healing, plenty of lean meats, vitamin-rich fruits, and vegetables should be served to your child. They must consume a lot of fiber-filled meals, such as whole grains, as well as plenty of water.

Scars take longer to reduce though the wound heals faster. Consult your doctor for remedies to reduce scarring. 

When to Seek Help

A large or deep wound might pose a major risk. Consult your surgeon or physician if your child’s wound is:

• Bleeding profusely or bleeding doesn’t stop from the wound.
• Child has a fever.
• Child complains of severe pain or pain worsens overtime.
• Tissues around the wound show progressive swelling
• Redness around the wound doesn’t subside or increases.
• The wound is oozing blood, pus, or foul-smelling watery discharge.

The good news is that children are resilient and heal faster. Help your child take good care of the surgical wound and encourage your child to follow the doctor’s advice. In no time, the wound will become a distant memory.