Der Chirurg; Zeitschrift für alle Gebiete der operativen Medizen
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In a prospective study of 50 consecutive patients primary wound closure was examined on cases with contaminated wounds. In 42 patients the period from the injury to the attendance of the ambulance ranged from 12 to 72 hours. Eight wounds were butcher's knife lesions in professionally exposed persons. ⋯ After removing sutures undisturbed healing was observed in both cases. Due to these results we no longer see a contraindication in the primary closure of contaminated wounds. With careful debridement and conscientious wound control during the first 72 hours, primary suture is of low risk, comfortable to the patients and cost saving.