Just had knee surgery and I’m supposed to keep this bandage and dressing on as well as not wash the leg for at least a week until my follow up.
I get that it was sterilized before be operated on and washing too soon could cause infections to the incisions but I don’t understand how leaving the same bandage on without cleaning it doesn’t cause infection.
In: Chemistry
Because the covering of the wound paired with the preemptive sterilisation will create an environment of extremely slow bacterial growth, if any. This allows your body to fight off what little does manage to grow under the dressing.
The anti bacterial cleansers they use to dress the wound are really good. I’m assuming they put the clear coverings over your incision sites?
Did they use Tegaderm? It will stay stuck down until you want to peel it, and will remain waterproof, yet create a breathable barrier for your skin.
If they didn’t leave the covering on, the wounds will heal wonky too, the scabbing process actually hinders healing, if you can prevent the wound from truly scabbing up (via these coverings) they heal much faster.
Source: recently had surgery on my back and a piece of Tegaderm on it for a week andca half as the wound healed.
Edit: I only spoke of Tegaderm, a gauze wrapping and proper covering and taping will achieve the same effect.
Right now that bandage is a shield. It’s acting like your skin in the sense that it’s keeping all the gross things outside.
Medical bandages are woven tighter, and have a denser glue that holds it together. This prevents dirt and bacteria from being absorbed. They’ll also usually have a layer of antibiotics underneath, so they’re not accidentally trapping anything when it’s first put on.
As soon as they’re wet though, that can introduce bacteria. That’s why it’s important not to wash it.
Source- have had multiple surgeries, dad’s a doctor, this is how it was explained to me. Call me out if any of this is wrong.
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