What is a common adverse postoperative effect of colchicine?

Colchicine is primarily used to treat conditions such as gout and familial Mediterranean fever, but it has known adverse effects that can impact surgical recovery. One common adverse postoperative effect of colchicine is its inhibition of wound contraction.

Wound contraction is a crucial part of the healing process, as it helps reduce the size of the wound site. Colchicine functions by disrupting the cytoskeletal structures within cells, which can inhibit fibroblast migration and the action of myofibroblasts that facilitate wound contraction. The result is that the healing process may be impaired, and the restoration of skin integrity can be delayed or altered. This is particularly significant in postoperative patients who rely on normal wound healing mechanisms for recovery. Understanding this adverse effect is essential for clinicians when managing patients on colchicine and their postoperative care.