Lessons from the history of wound healing

Despite that most of wound healing history is based on early mysticism, empirical reasoning, and unfounded conclusions, there was a tremendous amount of imagination and brilliance among a few who thought clearly and objectively and were brave enough to defend their new ideas. As we enter the 21st century, new laboratory tools have led us to gather a tremendous amount of scientific data as to the biological events of healing. Surprisingly, this new knowledge has not led to many “breakthroughs” in our management of wounds and scars. Although much has been accomplished, the pieces have yet to be fit together in a way that is truly meaningful for the patient. This brief chapter will discuss examples through the history of healing and the breakthroughs of the 16th to the 20th century in spite of suppression of new ideas. We still face the challenges of “the closed mind” among physicians, scientists, and those who direct funding, and in some cases are analogous to situations that have impeded progress in the past. Great credit should be given to the dedicated teachers and innovators in wound healing who, along with their followers, are bound to break through with solutions to clinical wound care.