Wound healing of the nasal and paranasal mucosa: a review.
BACKGROUND
Wound healing is a highly coordinated process involving clot formation, inflammatory reaction, immune response, and, finally, tissue remodeling and maturation. Only few data regarding the specific healing of the nasal or sinusal mucosa are available.


METHODS
After a short summary of the general principles of wound healing, the most important data regarding in vitro or in vivo models of wound healing of the nasal and paranasal mucosa are discussed. Attention is paid to clinical application.


RESULTS
First observations regarding the specific regulation of epithelial regeneration by growth factors have underlined the complex relationship between extracellular matrix and epithelium during the repair process. However, only poor and aspecific correlations can be described between endoscopically and histomorphologically defined postoperative phases.
Watelet
Jean-Baptiste
JB
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Ghent University Hospital, Belgium.
Bachert
Claus
C
Gevaert
Philippe
P
Van Cauwenberge
Paul
P
D000818:Animals; D004848:Epithelium / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000503:physiopathology; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000293:injuries* / Q000473:pathology; D010256:Paranasal Sinuses / Q000293:injuries* / Q000473:pathology; D020545:Respiratory Mucosa / Q000293:injuries* / Q000473:pathology; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology