Pathophysiology, Risk Factors, and Prevention of Wound Dehiscence Following Dermatologic Procedures

Skin cancer is the most common malignancy in the United States and has been increasing in incidence, affecting approximately one in five Americans. As the number of skin cancers have increased, so have the number of dermatologic procedures including biopsies and excisions. Behind surgical site infection, wound dehiscence is the second most common postoperative complication of dermatologic procedures. There are many preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative risk factors for wound dehiscence. The current literature on the risk factors of dehiscence within the field of dermatology is scarce. To our knowledge, there have not been any comprehensive reviews on this topic. Our research article aims to serve as a comprehensive and concise review with the goal of educating providers and increasing awareness of the risk factors associated with wound dehiscence.