Wound Healing Process
Nursing students are asked this trivia question: Which is the largest organ in the body? Some get the answer right, but it's kind of a trick question when most of us think of body organs, we think of those complex internal organs that perform all kinds of complicated jobs for our bodies to maintain homeostasis. But the answer, of course, is that the skin is the largest organ in, or in this case, on, the body. And as an organ, the skin has the fascinating ability to regenerate itself upon infliction of an injury that causes an open wound.
So let's take a look at the stages of wound healing, because it truly is an amazing feat that the body performs on a daily basis. From the tiniest puncture wound to a large abrasion, the skin finds a way to repair itself quite efficiently.
Within moments of the skin being broken, cells called platelets, or thrombocytes, rush to the site of the injury. These specialized cells form together to create a fibrin clot in order to control bleeding. Next is the inflammatory phase. While this may sound, and appear alarming, it's a necessary function towards healing. Bacteria and debris present in the wound by virtue of the injury, such as whatever germs were on the surface that caused the injury, are attacked and eaten by macrophages. These cells act like little pac-man units to consume bad bacteria and clean up the site.
The next phase, called the proliferation phase, is concerned with bringing closure of the wound. Collagen and granulation tissue, a tissue that replaces the clot and forms from within the wound, begins to form. The wound actually begins to close in as the cells, which act almost like muscle, contract to bind the epidermal tissue together. The epithelial cells begin to creep along the top of the wound, forming new skin as it does, much like the trail a snail leaves behind. The cells along the edges of the wound continue to contract as specialized cells called myofibroblasts actually grip the edges and pull them in tight, like a purse being closed by purse strings. As the wound continues to heal, new skin is formed by the cells that secrete collagen and the wound continues to fill in and repair.
This process is fascinating by virtue of the fact that it happens so very naturally with almost no outside help. However, flushing out the wound with clean water helps in clearing out debris, including bacteria. The application of topical anti-bacterial creams helps with controlling the bacteria that causes infection. And while the process of wound healing is a natural and remarkable course of action, it is somewhat fragile. If the bacterium proves to be too strong, for example, or the debris and germs are not removed completely and aggressively, as in wound debridement, it's possible that the wound becomes stuck in the inflammatory phase, causing chronic problems. This can happen for a variety of reasons. Persons who are immunocompromised because of HIV, old age, diabetes or other issues that cause a persons' body to be "run down" may find it harder to heal wounds. If the wound is very deep and bacteria form at the bottom of the wound while the skin heals over it, an abscess can form. This is common in cat bites, for example, because the feline tooth is long and curved, so the wound may appear to be healed but there is infection underneath.
A physician may prescribe oral or topical antibiotics either as a prophylactic to avoid infection or therapeutically to treat infection. This will help avoid or minimize the inflammation because inflammation is the outward display of the body fighting off infection. The redness, swelling and tenderness present at the site of a wound show us that the body is actually doing its job, fighting infection.
Learn More About Wounds and Wounds Healing: | ABRASION | ARTERIAL ULCER | BLISTER | CESAREAN SECTION | COLD SORE | CRACKED HEEL | HANGNAIL | PUNCTURE WOUND | SCAB FORMATION | SCAR FORMATION | SCRAPE | SKIN TEAR | SURGICAL INCISION | WOUND CONTAMINATION | MOIST HEALING | FREE OXYGEN RADICALS | ACUTE WOUNDS | CHRONIC WOUNDS | WOUND HEALING PROCESS
