**1. Introduction**

Surgical wounds are unique in the spectrum of acute and chronic wounds. They are technically acute wounds that progress through the phases of normal healing, resulting in wound closure within an expected timeframe of about 4 weeks [1]. They differ however from all other acute wounds in three important ways. First, they are planned and executed under the best of conditions, second, they present as incisions or excisions with clean edges and minimal tissue damage or loss, and third, their edges are precisely approximated with the mechanical support of a wound closure device to facilitate healing [2]. Wound closure devices are essential tools in surgery but can entail both benefits and risks to successful wound healing. The major categories of surgical wound closure devices will be described and discussed from the standpoint of their potential impact on both surgical wound healing and surgical wound complications.
