A wound channel is a small opening in a tissue or organ that occurs after surgery or injury. It may be open (that is, not covered by skin or other tissue) or closed, where the edges have healed but not completely closed due to tissue debris or other reasons. Wound channels can cause pain, discomfort, infection and other problems, especially if they are located close to blood vessels or nerve endings. In the article we will look at the main causes of wound channels, methods of their treatment and prevention, as well as possible complications that may arise in the absence of proper treatment of these conditions.
The main cause of the appearance of a wound channel is injury or surgery. For example, after surgery to remove a tumor, a wound channel may remain due to the removal of part of the tumor with tissue and the presence of a lumen where the tumor was removed. If the injury occurs in an open area of the skin, it can lead to inflammation and the formation of a wound with oozing fluid. Regardless of the cause of formation, the wound must be carefully treated and protected to prevent the development of infection or complications.
Treatment of wound channels
1. Applying sutures The first step in treating the wound channel is to apply sutures to the damaged area. This will help stop bleeding and prevent infection. However, in some cases, wound channel treatment may be necessary without spurs, such as to prevent re-injury or in the case of a chronic disease or condition that causes injury. Spurs may also be indicated if the wound is infected or very large. 2. Removal of the wound channel If the spurs are not sufficient to heal the wound and it remains in its original shape, you may need to remove the wound channel to close the wound and get rid of the source of pain. It is worth noting that, as a rule, this procedure is more expensive and complex than simply suturing. 3. Follow-up treatment Once the successful healing phase is completed, the wound goes through a postoperative period. Recovery time depends on many factors, including your age, overall health, how infected the wound was at the time of treatment, etc. Typically, after wound canal treatment, you should have 6 to 8 weeks of time for complete healing. You can understand how specifically you will be subject to these restrictions based on your medical history. 4. Consequences and possible complications As in the rest of the body, wound tubules are susceptible to infection. Therefore, you should be monitored continuously by a qualified healthcare professional during the healing period, taking into account any remaining threat to your health. I will list the possible consequences and complications associated with the formation of wound tubules: a. Infections Most wound channels are open wounds that can cause infections. In 5-25% of people, a wound canal infection develops at the very beginning of the recovery period. The most common cause of this infection is Staphylococcus aureus. A fungus such as Candida albicans may be attached. The likelihood of infection increases if the duct is open to particles. b. Abscesses One of the types of complications of chronic perioperative ra