Delayed primary closure in colon operations.

Secondary closure of incisions by tape is a simple, safe procedure. In a retrospective series of 179 contaminated surgical wounds (incisions for colon operations) delayed wound closure resulted in a lower incidence of wound infection (5.8%) than did primary closure of similar wounds (11.8%). Although wounds left open do become infected, the acute swelling and systemic signs typical of an infection in a closed wound never develop. Delayed closure facilitated wound healing in hospital: only 3.8% of patients thus treated left hospital with open wounds, but 9.5% of patients whose wounds were closed primarily left hospital with wounds that were partially or completely open.