title: Treating the chronic wound: A practical approach to the care of nonhealing wounds and wound care dressings.
abstract: Chronic wounds are a major healthcare problem costing the United States billions of dollars a year. The American Academy of Dermatology has underscored the significance of wound care in dermatological practice. It is critical for all dermatologists to understand the elements of diagnosis and therapy. We emphasize major aspects of diagnosis and present a simple classification of wound dressings with guidelines for usage and relative cost data.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  After completing this learning activity, participants should be able to diagnose common types of chronic wounds, formulate a therapeutic plan, and describe the major classes of topical therapies and dressings for the chronic wound.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: Margaret A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Fonder
authors.forename: Gerald S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Lazarus
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Cowan
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Aronson-Cook
authors.forename: Angela R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Kohli
authors.forename: Adam J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Mamelak
mesh_terms: D000464:Alginates / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001458:Bandages; D047070:Bandages, Hydrocolloid; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003094:Collagen / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003646:Debridement; D005260:Female; D016523:Foot Ulcer / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007249:Inflammation / Q000503:physiopathology; D007871:Leg Ulcer / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D009779:Occlusive Dressings; D017511:Pyoderma Gangrenosum / Q000628:therapy; D012883:Skin Ulcer / Q000628:therapy; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology; D014946:Wound Infection / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D000464:Alginates; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D020100:Hydrogels; D003094:Collagen