Medical Terminology for Wound Reopening Due to Infection
The medical term for a wound that reopens due to infectious complications is "wound dehiscence" or more specifically "infectious wound dehiscence." When infection is the primary cause, this is classified as a complication of surgical site infection (SSI) and represents a deep incisional SSI when it involves the fascia and deeper layers 1.
Specific Terminology by Context
Surgical Wounds
- Wound dehiscence is the general term for separation of wound edges after closure 1
- When occurring with infection, it is classified as a deep surgical site infection (SSI) if it involves fascia and deep muscle layers 1
- Purulent drainage and wound breakdown/dehiscence are confirmatory signs that infection is present 1
Fracture-Related Wounds
- In orthopedic contexts, this is termed fracture-related infection (FRI) when wound dehiscence occurs with exposed hardware 1
- Wound breakdown is listed as a confirmatory diagnostic criterion for FRI 1
Diabetic Wounds
- In diabetic patients, this represents wound breakdown as part of diabetic foot infection (DFI) 1
- The term emphasizes the break in the protective skin envelope with subsequent infection 1
Clinical Classification
Timing-Based Terminology
- Early infection (first 48 hours): Suggests virulent organisms like β-hemolytic streptococci or Clostridium species causing dehiscence 1
- Late infection (4-6 days postoperatively): Typically polymicrobial infections leading to wound breakdown 1
Depth-Based Classification
- Superficial incisional SSI: Involves only skin and subcutaneous tissue 1
- Deep incisional SSI with dehiscence: Involves fascia and deep muscle layers with wound separation 1
- This distinction is critical because deep dehiscence requires more aggressive surgical management 1
Key Clinical Pitfall
Do not confuse wound colonization with infected dehiscence. All wounds are colonized with bacteria, but dehiscence specifically occurs when there is tissue invasion causing inflammatory response and mechanical failure of wound closure 1. The presence of purulent drainage or spreading cellulitis confirms infection rather than simple colonization 1.