PHYSIOLOGY AND HEALING DYNAMICS OF CHRONIC CUTANEOUS WOUNDS

In the last few decades, a great deal of progress has been made in und erstanding the cellular and biochemical interplay that comprises the n ormal wound healing response. This response is a complex process invol ving intricate interactions among a variety of different cell types, s tructural proteins, growth factors, and proteinases. The normal wound repair process consists of three phases-inflammation, proliferation, a nd remodeling-that occur in a predictable sequence and comprise a seri es of cellular and biochemical events. A review of the biochemical and physiologic processes that regulate wound healing and the cascade of cellular events that gives rise to the healing process is presented he re. Am J Surg. 1998;176(Suppl 2A):26S-38S. (C) 1998 by Excerpta Medica , Inc.