Understanding dressings.
Currently our understanding of chronic wound pathophysiology is deficient in knowing what specifically is lacking during arrested wound healing. Autologous or allogenic keratinocytes have been used successfully to treat chronic wounds, as have composites containing diverse substances such as allogenic dermis, polyglycolic acid, or collagen mesh combined with keratinocytes or fibroblasts (Table 6). In spite of great technological advances and increased understanding, there is much work to be done. We look forward to the day when our knowledge of wound healing has progressed to the point when specific deficiencies can be supplemented by dressing contents, and when "smart" dressings can adapt to the changing wound as it progresses through the phases of healing.
Division of Plastic Surgery, Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, Michigan, USA.
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Ladin
D006801:Humans; D009779:Occlusive Dressings