CHRONIC PROBLEM WOUNDS

It is often challenging to diagnose and treat chronic wounds. This art icle provides a basic understanding of the dynamics of wound healing a nd the factors that contribute to impaired wound healing. A systematic approach to the evaluation and management of chronic problem wounds, including prevention of recurrence, is described. This article also ex amines the role of wound care in the present managed-care arena, and d iscusses some possibilities to accelerate problem wound healing. Final ly, clinical examples of problem wounds and their successful managemen t with various therapeutic regimens are presented.