healing by secondary intention

Surgical wound healing by secondary intention versus primary and delayed primary closure: systematic review protocol

February 13, 2026

Background Every year 4.4 million surgical procedures are undertaken under the National Health Service (NHS) in England.1 Incisions made during these procedures are ideally closed immediately after surgery, known as primary closure or healing by primary intent. In some circumstances the incision is left open and allowed to heal from the base upwards through granulation,…