A contaminated open laceration of the thigh from a farm injury is cleaned, debrided, dressed, and left unclosed. On the fourth day the wound appears clean with no infection. The surgeon now approximates the edges with sutures. This closure strategy is best described as:

• A Primary intention
• B Secondary intention
• C Delayed primary closure (tertiary intention) ✓
• D Epithelialization under a dressing

Explanation

Delayed primary closure means leaving a heavily contaminated or dirty wound open for approximately 3 to 5 days while it is observed for infection, then closing it surgically once it is clean. It combines the low infection rate of open management with the faster, stronger repair of sutured closure. Pure secondary intention relies on granulation, contraction, and epithelialization without suturing.

Reference: Bailey and Love's Short Practice of Surgery, 27th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.