title: Emergency management of chronic wounds.
abstract: As America's emergency departments witness an increase in care provided to an aging population, the emergency physician increasingly evaluates and treats manifestations of chronic disease. Nonhealing wounds are often a presenting manifestation of chronic disease. They are a source of pain and disability for this population. Emergency physicians should possess a fundamental knowledge in the management of chronic wounds. This article familiarizes the emergency physician with the epidemiology of chronic wounds, the physiology of tissue repair, the pathophysiology involved in wound healing failure, the common types of chronic wounds, and specific management strategies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, 3181 Southwest Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland, OR 97239-7500, USA. rickhartoch@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Richard S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Hartoch
authors.forename: John G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: McManus
authors.forename: Sheri
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Knapp
authors.forename: Mark F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Buettner
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002908:Chronic Disease; D017719:Diabetic Foot / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D003668:Pressure Ulcer / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology*; D014946:Wound Infection / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000145:classification / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents