The Wound Healing Process Step by Step and What Can Complicate It
Proper care of injuries is a fundamental prerequisite for their successful healing. Knowing the individual phases of healing facilitates treatment and helps prevent the most common complications.
Wound healing occurs in three stages:
1. Cleansing Phase
During the cleansing phase, bleeding stops and immune cells clean the damaged area from unwanted tissue debris and harmful microorganisms. Inflammation develops in the wound as a reaction to these unwanted elements. What are the complications in this phase of healing?
- For example, an infection may occur.
- Sometimes tissue necrosis occurs, which prevents wound closure and therefore needs to be removed.
The self-cleaning capabilities of the wound can be supported by the appropriate choice of dressings that ensure an ideal environment at the site of injury.
2. Granulation Phase
The next step in the healing process is the granulation phase, where new cells begin to grow in the wound. Its vascular supply is also restored. The emergence of new, so-called granulation tissue at the site of injury is a good sign and indicates successful healing. However, the process can be disrupted by the following factors:
- If the growth of granulation tissue is excessive (so-called hypergranulation), the process of cell growth and wound closure becomes complicated.
- As in the initial phase, the risk during this phase can also be an infection, which can cause pockets of pus to form.
- Other dangers include wound drying or maceration. This can occur due to excessively long intervals between dressings or using an unsuitable type of wound covering.
3. Epithelialization Phase
The final stage of wound healing is the so-called epithelialization phase, during which new skin cells spread from the edges of the wound to its center, gradually covering the injury site. A complication of this stage can be wound drying, which slows healing, contributes to scab formation, and adversely affects scar formation.
What to Be Cautious About
Wound dehiscence is a common complication in healing postoperative wounds. It can be caused by an atypical healing process, the body's reaction to the material used to stitch the wound, or an infection. When wound dehiscence occurs, it is necessary to treat the infection and re-stitch the area after treatment. The overall health condition of the patient can also make the wound healing process more difficult. Disrupted conditions for healing may affect diabetics, individuals with blood clotting disorders, or people with autoimmune diseases.
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Sources:
https://www.woundsource.com/blog/complications-in-chronic-wound-healing-and-associated-interventions
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