Wound Healing - Summary (Bailey & Love's Surgery)
Introduction
Wound healing is a complex biological process restoring tissue integrity after injury. It occurs
through overlapping phases: hemostasis, inflammation, proliferation, and remodeling.
Phases of Wound Healing
1. **Hemostasis (Immediate - Minutes)**: Vasoconstriction, platelet aggregation, clot formation.
2. **Inflammation (Hours - Days)**: Neutrophils and macrophages clear debris and secrete
cytokines.
3. **Proliferation (Days - Weeks)**: Fibroblasts deposit collagen, angiogenesis occurs, and epithelial
cells migrate.
4. **Remodeling/Maturation (Weeks - Months)**: Collagen reorganization, scar formation, and
wound contraction.
Types of Wound Healing
1. **Primary Intention**: Wounds closed surgically with minimal tissue loss.
2. **Secondary Intention**: Wounds left open to heal by granulation.
3. **Tertiary Intention (Delayed Primary Closure)**: Wounds initially left open and later closed
surgically.
Factors Affecting Wound Healing
**Local Factors:** Oxygenation, infection, mechanical stress, wound hydration.
**Systemic Factors:** Age, nutrition (vitamin C, zinc), diabetes, steroids, immunosuppression.
Complications of Wound Healing
1. **Delayed Healing**: Due to infection, ischemia, or poor nutrition.
2. **Hypertrophic Scars & Keloids**: Excessive collagen deposition.
3. **Wound Dehiscence**: Partial or complete reopening of the wound.
4. **Chronic Wounds**: Seen in pressure ulcers, diabetic foot ulcers.
Introduction
Wound healing is a complex biological process restoring tissue integrity after injury. It occurs
through overlapping phases: hemostasis, inflammation, proliferation, and remodeling.
Phases of Wound Healing
1. **Hemostasis (Immediate - Minutes)**: Vasoconstriction, platelet aggregation, clot formation.
2. **Inflammation (Hours - Days)**: Neutrophils and macrophages clear debris and secrete
cytokines.
3. **Proliferation (Days - Weeks)**: Fibroblasts deposit collagen, angiogenesis occurs, and epithelial
cells migrate.
4. **Remodeling/Maturation (Weeks - Months)**: Collagen reorganization, scar formation, and
wound contraction.
Types of Wound Healing
1. **Primary Intention**: Wounds closed surgically with minimal tissue loss.
2. **Secondary Intention**: Wounds left open to heal by granulation.
3. **Tertiary Intention (Delayed Primary Closure)**: Wounds initially left open and later closed
surgically.
Factors Affecting Wound Healing
**Local Factors:** Oxygenation, infection, mechanical stress, wound hydration.
**Systemic Factors:** Age, nutrition (vitamin C, zinc), diabetes, steroids, immunosuppression.
Complications of Wound Healing
1. **Delayed Healing**: Due to infection, ischemia, or poor nutrition.
2. **Hypertrophic Scars & Keloids**: Excessive collagen deposition.
3. **Wound Dehiscence**: Partial or complete reopening of the wound.
4. **Chronic Wounds**: Seen in pressure ulcers, diabetic foot ulcers.
