Surgical incisions and principles of wound healing

A wound is any break in the skin or an organ or part as the result of trauma or surgical incision. The process of wound healing can be defined as the physiological responses by which the body replaces and restores function to damaged tissues. In normal skin, the epidermis and dermis exists in a steady-state equilibrium, forming a protective barrier against the external environment. Once the protective barrier is broken, the normal physiological process of wound healing is immediately set in motion. This is a complex and dynamic process dependent on local and systemic factors affecting the patient’s health status. An understanding of normal wound healing physiology will provide the surgeon with a framework for performing any surgical procedure and achieving satisfactory wound healing. Understanding of the mechanism of wound healing has increased dramatically during last decade. Today wound-healing abnormalities are among the greatest causes of disability and deformity. This chapter reviews the principles and factors that effect wound healing and the common surgical incisions.