Ask Dr. Z

Patient has a draining sinus tract from a non healing abdominal wound. Patient taken to the operating room where the sinus tract was then probed with forceps. It went about 4-5 cm deep and was narrow. An incision was made with a scalpel through the old midline suture surgical scar spanning the mouth of the sinus tract. Essentially this sinus tract was split all the way down to it's base. Halfway down we encountered the first piece of ethibond suture which was barely incorporated and easily removed. Then using electrocautery, the scalpel and Kocher clamp the subcutaneous scar was cored out and circumferentially around the sinus tract saw more fibrous material at the base and pulled on this and removed another piece of unincorporated ethibon suture. Palpating the wound we could not feel anymore scar. It was healthy tissue thoughout the entire wound bed now. The wound was irrigated, no further bleeding identified and no foriegn bodies were seen. All the tissue was healthy. Sutured deep cavity and skin. Excision and repair?