A surgical wound is a cut or an incision in the skin that is usually made by a scalpel during surgery. A surgical wound can also be the result of a drain placed during surgery. Surgical wounds vary greatly in size. They are usually closed with sutures but are sometimes left open to heal.

Surgical wounds can be classified into one of four categories, according to guidelines set by the American College of Surgeons. These categories depend on how contaminated or clean the wound is, the risk of infection, and where the wound is located on the body.

Class I: These are considered clean wounds. They show no signs of infection or inflammation. They often involve the eye, skin, or vascular system.

Class II: These wounds are considered clean-contaminated. Although the wound may not show signs of infection, it is at an increased risk of becoming infected. This can be due to its location. For example, surgical wounds in the gastrointestinal tract may be at a high risk of becoming infected.

Class III: A surgical wound in which an outside object has come in contact with the skin is classified as having a high risk of infection and considered a contaminated wound. For example, a gunshot wound may contaminate the skin around where the surgical repair occurs.

Class IV: This class of wound is considered dirty-contaminated. They include wounds that have been exposed to fecal material.

Surgical wounds are created when a surgeon makes an incision or a cut with a surgical instrument called a scalpel. A wide variety of medical circumstances might require a surgery. The size of a wound depends on the type of procedure and location on the body.