PHYSIOLOGY OF THE CHRONIC WOUND

Chronic wounds are a heterogenous group of disorders which are frequen tly associated with a small number of well-defined clinical entities, particularly chronic venous stasis, diabetes mellitus, and pressure ne crosis. Successful treatment of these wounds requires a thorough under standing of the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms. Although man y phenomena remain unexplained, a clear understanding of the facts pre sently available should provide the clinician with a good scientific b asis for rational clinical interventions.