What is the classification of a wound that is old and was contaminated prior to a procedure?

The classification of a wound as "dirty" is appropriate for a wound that has been old and contaminated prior to a procedure. This classification is typically used to describe wounds that contain necrotic tissue, foreign bodies, or are already infected, indicating a higher risk of complications and infection.

In surgical terms, a dirty wound often involves established infection or necessitates the presence of contaminated tissue and organisms. Such wounds may have been exposed to pathogens for an extended period, thus increasing the likelihood of the presence of bacteria and other infectious materials. Surgeons must approach these types of wounds with heightened caution, often considering the need for thorough debridement and possibly antibiotics to manage any existing infection before proceeding with surgical intervention.

This classification contrasts with other types, such as clean, where there is no contamination, or clean-contaminated, which involves a surgical wound that is at a lower risk for infection but may have had some controlled entry into the respiratory, gastrointestinal, or genitourinary tract. Contaminated wounds are those that are fresh and have a significant risk of infection but do not possess the established infection characteristic of dirty wounds.