title: Please close this skin wound.
abstract: Acute cutaneous wounds following trauma are commonly encountered in the emergency department. This article explains the principles of their closure and provides advice on optimal management. Wound healing occurs in four phases: haemostatic, inflammatory, proliferative and maturation (Janis et al, 2010). The guidance below is based on the authors' personal practice, designed to promote transition through these stages and result in optimized healing with minimal scarring. It is intended to guide the reader through what can be a daunting prospect for many doctors in training: the acute closure of simple wounds.
authors.affiliation: Plastic Surgery Stroke Mandeville Hosital, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire. kana.miyagi@doctors.org.uk
authors.forename: Kana
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Miyagi
authors.forename: Pundrique R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: Richard D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Price
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D006406:Hematoma / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D011184:Postoperative Period; D058106:Wound Closure Techniques; D014945:Wound Healing; D014946:Wound Infection / Q000517:prevention & control; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000628:therapy*