Wound healing is a complex process for the body. Many factors are involved in the wound healing process. Surgical technologists must be aware of how wounds are graded to show the level of contamination, the healing process, complications that may delay patients' healing, and their implications. According to J. Zinn (2012), “In 1964, the National Academy of Sciences1 published its landmark study on the use of ultraviolet lamps in the operating room, and the era of wound classification in depending on the present contamination (or the potential for contamination) has started. The wound healing categories were originally established by the American College for surgeons, and then the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) modified them (J. Zinn, 2012, p. 274). The first is Class I or clean wounds. These are clean wounds and do not enter any tract such as the gastrointestinal tract (GI tract), respiratory tract and urinary tract. An example would be a clean incision for a surgical procedure (J. Zinn, 2012, p. 275). The second is class II or clean and contaminated wounds. These are uncontaminated wounds or incisions that enter a tract (Mulholland and Doherty, 2006, p. 141). An example is a hysterectomy (J. Zinn, 2012, p. 275). Third, there is Class III or contaminated wounds. These include accidental open wounds, a breakdown in sterile technique, or spillage from a tract such as the gastrointestinal tract (Mulholland and Doherty, 2006, p.141). Finally, there is class IV or dirty/infected wounds. The wounds are more than four hours old and were most likely contaminated before the incision (J. Zinn, 2012, p. 276). In addition to wound classifications, there are types of healing. Wound healing is divided into different categories. The first is p...... middle of paper......, RN, J. (February 26, 2011). Dehiscence and evisceration complications of surgical incision – dehiscence and evisceration of the surgical wound. Retrieved from http://surgery.about.com/od/aftersurgery/ss/DehiscenceEvisc.htmMulholland, MW and Doherty, GM (2006). Complications in surgery. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Wound care. (nd). Retrieved from http://www.atitesting.com/ati_nextn/skillsmodules/content/wound care/equipment/a_and_p.htmlZinn, J.L. (2012). Classification of surgical wounds: Communication is necessary for accuracy. AORN Journal, 95(2), 274-278. Retrieved from http://www.nursingconsult.com/nursing/journals/0001-2092/full text/PDF/s0001209211011070.pdf?issn=0001 2092&full_text=pdf&pdfName=s0001209211011070.pdf&spid=24970366&article_id= 77 35Zinn, SP Types of healing of wounds. (nd). Retrieved from http://www.medstudentlc.com/page.php?id=67