Which statement best describes secondary intention healing?

Which statement best describes secondary intention healing?

• A. Secondary intention involves tissue loss with granulation, contraction, and scar formation; primary intention involves wound edges approximated with sutures.
• B. Secondary intention heals by immediate closure with minimal scarring.
• C. Secondary intention heals faster than primary intention in all wounds.
• D. Secondary intention does not form scar tissue.

Answer: (D)

Secondary intention healing occurs when tissue loss prevents the wound edges from being brought together. In this scenario, granulation tissue fills the defect, new blood vessels form, fibroblasts lay down collagen, and myofibroblasts cause wound contraction. This process ultimately results in scar tissue. That’s why the best description is the one that mentions tissue loss with granulation, contraction, and scar formation. Describing immediate closure with minimal scarring reflects primary intention, not secondary. The claim that secondary healing is faster in all wounds is incorrect, as it’s typically slower and leaves more noticeable scarring. And saying no scar tissue forms is also incorrect, since scar formation is a key feature of secondary healing.

Secondary intention healing occurs when tissue loss prevents the wound edges from being brought together. In this scenario, granulation tissue fills the defect, new blood vessels form, fibroblasts lay down collagen, and myofibroblasts cause wound contraction. This process ultimately results in scar tissue. That’s why the best description is the one that mentions tissue loss with granulation, contraction, and scar formation. Describing immediate closure with minimal scarring reflects primary intention, not secondary. The claim that secondary healing is faster in all wounds is incorrect, as it’s typically slower and leaves more noticeable scarring. And saying no scar tissue forms is also incorrect, since scar formation is a key feature of secondary healing.