Wound healing is a natural process, which is influenced by many external and internal factors. Without reliable wound healing, health consequences would occur, which could even lead to death.
What is wound healing?
The basis for wound healing is a new formation of tissue. In this context, wound healing can also conclude with a scar tissue. During wound healing, complex and extremely complicated processes take place in the organism, which in the final result contribute to the closure of the wound opening. The basis for wound healing is the formation of new tissue, which is completely identical or merely similar to the destroyed tissue. In this context, wound healing can also end with scar tissue. Due to a whole series of influences it can happen that there is a disturbance of wound healing. As a rule, wound healing proceeds quickly when the extent is small. The body’s own natural biological processes can also take a long time or fail to occur during wound healing. Wound healing also depends on the nature of the wound. Different types of wound healing exist.
Course, stages and phases
Wound healing proceeds in different stages, which also characterize the courses and symptoms occurring during wound healing. In medicine, stages of wound healing classified as exudative, resorptive, proliferative stage, and regenerative stage. All stages are based on the previous stage and cannot be separated from each other. The stages of wound healing cannot be clearly delineated in every case. Within the first three days after an injury, wound closure occurs during wound healing due to blood clotting. In wound healing, this is based on a secreted moisture, an exudate, which contains fibrin, a clotting factor. Visible from the outside, the initiation of wound healing appears as a scab or burr. Due to this initially temporary wound closure, no infections can occur during wound healing. The resorptive stage of wound healing is characterized by the manifestation of an accumulation of endogenous protein. The formation of so-called granulation tissue is opened. In the proliferation phase, which lasts until the seventh day, the fibroblasts produce a supporting tissue. During wound healing, this consists of collagen fibers and provides a protein-containing basic scaffold. Eight to nine days after wound formation, scar tissue begins to grow. The scar tissue visually appears lighter and smoother than intact tissue. In addition, scar tissue develops during wound healing not only on the skin, but also on the internal organs. With the scar tissue made of squamous epithelium, a special layer of tissue, normal wound healing is complete.
Functions and tasks
Wound healing involves other functions besides cleansing, protecting, and closing the wound. Intact wound healing can prevent diseases caused by invading germs. Furthermore, wound healing establishes an interruption of blood loss so that the organism can survive. Through a completely finished wound healing, a damaged or destroyed tissue and the associated organ regains its functionality.
Diseases, complications, and disorders
When there is an interruption or an inability of the organism to provide complete wound healing, it is called a disorder of wound healing or a wound healing disorder. A disorder of wound healing is causally related to varying factors. These aspects relate either directly to the wound itself. Wound healing may be impaired, for example, by infection, the effect of pressure, inadequate coagulation and wound closure, excessive extent of the wound, or exposure to stress. If wound healing is impaired despite exclusion of these causes, the causes may be age (wounds heal very poorly in older people), existing diseases such as metabolic diseases, insufficient immune defense, cancer, hormonal disorders and deficiencies. An inadequate, unbalanced diet and too little fluid can also cause a wound healing disorder. Important in connection with the diet are various minerals and vitamins that support wound healing.Due to malnutrition or undernourishment, these are absent and wound healing disorders occur. If disturbances in wound healing occur, reasons such as taking various medications (anticoagulants, cytostatics), diseases of the cardiovascular system with accompanying reduced blood flow, and individual mental illnesses can be the reasons. Excessive, addiction-related consumption of alcohol or drugs also limits wound healing.
