Prediction of healing time as an aid to the management of open granulating wounds

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Abstract
The healing rates of 2 groups of patients were studied. Forty patients had laparotomy wounds that were left open to granulate because of overt or suspected infection, and 29 were from a series of pilonidal sinus excisions left unsutured as a matter of policy. The linear regressions of healing time against wound size were determined, the dimension chosen for wound size being either the breadth or depth, whichever was greater. From the results obtained, it was possible to calculate a “predicted” healing time for each wound corresponding to its size and to see how this differed from the observed time. The deviations found were used for statistical analysis relating to possible etiological factors; for example, the significance of infection as a cause of delayed healing.Prediction of the healing time for individual wounds allows the patient to be given information about the likely duration of wound healing. More importantly, it enables delay in wound healing to be recognized and investigated at an early stage and facilitates analysis of factors having a possible bearing on the process.

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