Which type of wound is healing by secondary intention?

Secondary intention healing occurs when a wound is left open and heals from the bottom up and from the edges inward, often resulting in a larger scar compared to primary intention. This process is typical for wounds with significant tissue loss, where the wound cannot be closed directly.

A stage 3 pressure injury on the coccyx is characteristic of secondary intention healing because it involves a full-thickness loss of skin and underlying tissue. The wound cannot simply be closed due to the extent of the damage, and healing requires the formation of granulation tissue, which gradually fills the wound and eventually leads to closure. This is in contrast to wounds that are sutured or stapled closed, which are generally classified as healing by primary intention.

Other options describe scenarios involving wounds that are either too clean to heal by secondary intention or are being actively closed, which aligns with primary intention healing. Thus, the presence of a stage 3 pressure injury aligns perfectly with the characteristics of secondary intention healing due to the nature of tissue loss and the healing process involved.