Clinical innovation: the Sandy Grading System for Surgical Wound Dehiscence Classification — a new taxonomy

The worldwide volume of surgery is considerable, with an estimated 234.2mn major surgical procedures carried out every year (Weiser et al, 2008). While contemporary surgical procedures are relatively safe, complications such as surgical wound dehiscence, although not commonplace, are a major disruptor to patient wellbeing and wound healing outcomes. Moreover, the importance of classification, documentation and reporting of this type of wound must not be underestimated. Accurate diagnosis and reporting of the type of dehiscence and underlying aetiology is key to understanding the extent of the problem. This paper presents a novel classification system that uses a systematic approach for the diagnosis of the type of dehiscence following surgery.