What are the differences between primary and secondary wound healing?

Primary and secondary wound healing differ in the way the wound is closed and the time it takes for the wound to heal. Primary wound healing, or primary intention wound healing, occurs in wounds with dermal edges that are close together. The wound is closed using staples, stitches, glues, or other forms of wound-closing processes. This reduces the tissue lost and allows the body to focus on closing and healing a smaller-area wound rather than the larger initial wound. It is usually faster than secondary intention.

Secondary wound healing, or secondary intention wound healing, occurs when a wound that cannot be stitched causes a large amount of tissue loss. Doctors will leave the wound to heal naturally in these cases. This may be more common for wounds that have a rounder edge, cover uneven surfaces, or are on surfaces of the body where movement makes stitches or other closure methods impossible. Secondary wound healing relies on the body’s own healing mechanisms. This process takes longer, which may be due to increased wound size, the risk of infection and contamination, and other factors.