Caring for a surgical wound at home: the warning signs you must not ignore
Most surgical wounds heal quietly. But one infection caught late can send the patient back to hospital. Learn what is normal and what should make you call the doctor.
After discharge, the family becomes the first to see the wound every day. Telling normal healing from an early infection is the most important skill of the first two weeks.
What is normal?
- Mild redness along the edge of the wound, no wider than a centimetre, fading day by day.
- Slight swelling and pain that gradually improve with the prescribed painkillers.
- A little clear or pinkish fluid in the first days, then a dry wound.
- Mild itching as healing begins.
Signs that need a call to the doctor the same day
- Redness that spreads or feels hot, or red streaks running from the wound.
- Yellow, green or thick discharge, or a foul smell.
- A temperature above 38 °C, or shivering.
- Pain that gets worse instead of better, or part of the wound opening.
- Bleeding that does not stop after ten minutes of pressure.
Dressing rules at home
- Wash your hands for 20 seconds with soap and water before and after, and wear clean gloves.
- Remove the old dressing in the direction of hair growth; if it sticks, moisten it with saline rather than pulling.
- Clean from the centre of the wound outwards with sterile saline. Do not use alcohol or iodine on the wound itself unless the surgeon says so.
- Pat dry, never wipe, then apply the new dressing without tension.
- Note the date and the look of the wound, and photograph it in the same light each time to compare progress.
Stitches, staples and strips
Keep the wound dry for the first 48 hours unless the surgeon instructs otherwise, and do not peel off adhesive strips; they fall off by themselves. The surgeon sets the date for removing stitches (usually 7 to 14 days), and a licensed nurse can do it at home.
Scrub Men post-operative care includes daily or alternate-day dressing, stitch removal at home, monitoring of temperature and infection signs, and a photo report for your surgeon. Book a visit before the discharge date so everything is ready.
