Singer et al identified factors affecting the final appearance following repair if a laceration or surgical incision. These can help to identify a patient who may require more aggressive management. The authors are from the State University of New York at Stony Brook.
Factors associated with a worse appearance after healing:
(1) wound on an extremity
(2) wide wound
(3) infection
(4) incomplete apposition of the wound edges
(5) trauma to adjacent and underlying tissue
(6) use of electrocautery
A wound with one or more of these factors may have a suboptimal appearance.
Other issues not mentioned:
(1) tendency to form keloid or hypertrophic scar
(2) use of drugs that impair healing like corticosteroids
Adequate debridement would affect a traumatic wound but would be less important in a laceration or surgical incision.
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