A client has been admitted to the acute care unit after surgery to debride an infected skin ulceration. The surgeon reports plans to leave the wound open to promote drainage and later close it. This represents what type of wound healing?

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Healing by tertiary intention occurs when a delay ensues between injury and wound closure. This type of healing also is referred to as delayed primary closure. It may happen when a deep wound is not sutured immediately or is purposely left open until there is no sign of infection, then closed with sutures. Wounds with minimal tissue loss, such as clean surgical incisions or shallow sutured wounds heal, by primary intention. The edges of the primary wound are approximated or lightly pulled together. Wounds with full-thickness tissue loss, such as deep lacerations, burns, and pressure ulcers, have edges that do not readily approximate. They heal by secondary intention. The open wound gradually fills with granulation tissue.

A Client Has Been Admitted to the Acute Care Unit