Can moist skin and oozing of fluid from the site of Achilles surgery be due to infection?

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I have read your query and saw the images (attachment removed to protect patient identity) attached.

The first week's picture looks normal. It is dry.

In the second week's picture:

• What is that white thin coating layer? Is that antibiotic cream?
• The lower half of sutured skin looks moist, and at one point, there is some reddish fluid oozing out. It should be dry also.
• Do you have any of the following symptoms around the stitches:
• Is there any discharge from the wound?
• Is there any odd smell of the fluid oozing out?
• Is there any increase in the warmth of the nearby local skin?
• Do you have any increase in the pain?
• Do you have any fever or high temperature?
• When will the suture be removed?

Would you please reply to the above questions?

Did you see your doctor and ask why the skin looks moist and some fluid is oozing out?

Take care.

Thanks.

Hi,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

Such wet skin appearance might be due to the splint. When there is no fever, odd smell of the fluid oozing, and no more increased pain, it all hint that the wound is not infected. Please take the prescribed antibiotic on time regularly. Your treating doctor has seen it too, so do not worry. You will get your sutures removed in the upcoming four days too. That time you will see more clearly whether the skin edges have adequately adhered to or not. Generally, by around three weeks (lower extremities), the skin edges should unite properly without gap due to the suture, although it will be weak (which gains strength in due course of time).

I hope and wish the wound should heal properly. Take care.

Thanks.

Hi,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

I am sorry to read your reply. It should not hurt or pain much. Instead, skin sutures should start to heal by this time. The skin should be adequately united without a gap. What the doctor tells about the wound after removing the suture? I hope you have been properly instructed to take care of it and take the necessary medicine. Take care. Thanks.

Hi,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

I have gone through the attached picture (attachment removed to protect patient identity). The upper part of the sutured skin is nice and healthy. The lower part is unhealthy. So only you have been given additional two more weeks of antibiotics to prevent any infection occurring in the wound.

Compared with the last picture which you had attached, it is healing. In the last picture, the whitish area was long and extended till the bottom of the heel, but it has reduced in this recent picture. Also, the surrounding skin is not tight, and it is loose. Do not worry. It will heal. Just follow the precautions and advice given by the doctor. Take antibiotics on time. Thanks.