Final answer:
Proud flesh at a postoperative wound site describes an overgrowth of granulation tissue, which is a raised, red and bumpy tissue protruding above the surface of the skin and can disrupt the normal healing process.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term 'proud flesh' in medical practice refers to an excessive amount of granulation tissue that can form at the site of a healing wound, more than what is necessary just to fill the wound. This tissue is typically red, bumpy, and may protrude above the level of the surrounding skin, thus interfering with wound healing. A synonym for proud flesh is 'hypergranulation'. This situation can arise during the tissue repair phase after injury.
When the body is repairing a wound, fibroblasts deposit collagen, which forms a scaffold for new tissue to form, known as granulation tissue. In a properly healing wound, this granulation tissue eventually forms a pale scar and normal tissue structure is restored over it. However, if there is an overproduction of granulation tissue, it can become raised and excessive, and the result is proud flesh. In such cases, treatment may be necessary to remove the excessive tissue and promote proper wound healing.