At which stage of healing would dehiscence typically be seen?

Dehiscence, which refers to the reopening or bursting open of a wound that has already started to heal, typically occurs during the inflammatory phase of healing. This phase is characterized by the body's immediate response to injury, where inflammation is prominent, and the foundations for healing are being laid down.

During this phase, the wound site is filled with inflammatory cells and exudate, and although initial healing processes begin, the tensile strength of the wound is still very low. If stress is applied to the wound, such as from movement, coughing, or undue pressure, it can lead to dehiscence because the wound edges are not yet securely held together.

In the later phases of healing, such as the proliferative phase, significant tissue formation occurs, and the wound begins to heal more robustly. Similarly, the maturation phase involves the remodeling and strengthening of the scar tissue. A well-healed wound would be less likely to experience dehiscence during these stages, making the inflammatory phase the critical time when this complication is most commonly observed.