Which healing type is characterized by edges that are left unsutured and the wound gradually fills with granulation tissue?

• A. Secondary intention healing
• B. Tertiary intention healing
• C. Primary intention healing
• D. Regenerative wound healing

Answer: (A)

When a wound’s edges are left unsutured, healing occurs by secondary intention. In this process, the wound fills from the bottom up with granulation tissue, which is formed by new capillaries, proliferating fibroblasts, and extracellular matrix. Over time, epithelial cells migrate in from the wound margins to resurface the surface, while myofibroblasts contract the tissue to shrink the defect. This pathway is slower and typically results in a larger scar compared with primary closure.

Primary intention would involve bringing the wound edges together with sutures or staples, leading to rapid healing and minimal scarring. Tertiary intention (delayed primary closure) involves initially keeping the wound open to allow infection risk to resolve, then closing it later, which also tends to produce more scarring than primary but less than what secondary intention often yields. Regenerative wound healing focuses on restoring tissue architecture and function with regeneration rather than repair, which isn’t the process described here.