Presentation A 71-year old man presented following left anterio-axillary thoracotomy with haematoma and seroma formation in the surgical wound. On examination there was a 4cm wound with considerable subcutaneous pocket formation under the wound edges and much old thrombotic material. The wound bed was beginning granulation, the wound edges were well supplied with blood and there were no local signs of infection.
Treatment The thrombotic material present was digitally removed. The wound was packed with Sorbalgon and covered with gauze swabs. Progress For the first 10 days, dressings were changed twice daily, and then once daily until the wound had healed. After 24 days undisturbed granulation tissue had formed and the wound had retracted.
Outcome The wound could then be closed by suturing under local anaesthetic.
