Impairments to wound healing.
Impaired wound healing is a complication faced by all physicians, regardless of their field of practice. Plastic surgeons are frequently called on to help treat patients who fail to heal properly. Therefore, plastic surgeons must be well versed in the intrinsic and extrinsic factors that can impair wound healing, such as nutrition, drugs, radiation, smoking, and hypoxia. Only by limiting detrimental factors can wound healing progress in a beneficial fashion.
Burns
John L
JL
Division of Plastic Surgery, University of Texas Medical Branch, 6124 McCoullough Building, 301 University Blvd., Galveston, TX 77555-0724, USA.
Mancoll
John S
JS
Phillips
Linda G
LG
D006801:Humans; D009752:Nutritional Status; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology* / Q000528:radiation effects