Science of Wound Healing : Translation of Bench Science into Advances for Chronic Wound Care

Introduction Traditionally, most acute skin wounds heal without clinically significant complications, and the resulting scar tissue functions similarly enough to unwounded skin that the repaired wound does not cause substantial problems. However, some acute skin wounds fail to heal in an expected or predicted manner and become chronic, which invariably leads to a wide range of complications, including infection, poor quality of life, increased risk of lower limb amputation, and, ultimately, death from systemic sepsis. Although much is understood about the basic science of normal skin wound healing, only recently has research begun to unravel the molecular and cellular reasons why some wounds fail to heal. Fortunately, these discoveries are constantly being translated into new therapies that selectively target the bacterial, molecular, and cellular abnormalities that impair healing, correct imbalances, and convert the chronic wound into a healing wound.