title: Wound healing and treating wounds: Chronic wound care and management.
abstract: In the United States, chronic ulcers--including decubitus, vascular, inflammatory, and rheumatologic subtypes--affect >6 million people, with increasing numbers anticipated in our growing elderly and diabetic populations. These wounds cause significant morbidity and mortality and lead to significant medical costs. Preventative and treatment measures include disease-specific approaches and the use of moisture retentive dressings and adjunctive topical therapies to promote healing. In this article, we discuss recent advances in wound care technology and current management guidelines for the treatment of wounds and ulcers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina. Electronic address: jennifer.powers2@dm.duke.edu.
authors.forename: Jennifer G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Powers
authors.affiliation: Vanderbilt School of Medicine, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee.
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Higham
authors.affiliation: Division of Dermatology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee.
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Broussard
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts; SkinCare Physicians, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Tania J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Phillips
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003646:Debridement / Q000379:methods*; D003902:Detergents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D054843:Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy; D009824:Ointments / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011379:Prognosis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D017592:Skin Care / Q000379:methods*; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000379:methods; D012883:Skin Ulcer / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology*; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D003902:Detergents; D009824:Ointments