Chapter 3 Healing
Healing
Healing is the final stage of the response of tissue to injury.
The capacity of a tissue for regeneration depends on its proliferative ability and on the type and severity of the damage. In particular, regeneration is not possible if the STEM CELLS are destroyed.
Three broad groups of cells are considered in the context of the cell cycle (p.3).
REGENERATION involves TWO PROCESSES:
The FACTORS which CONTROL healing and repair are complex: they include the production of a large variety of growth factors.
Wound Healing
Healing of a wound shows both epithelial regeneration (healing of the epidermis) and repair by scarring (healing of the dermis).
Two patterns are described depending on the amount of tissue damage. These are the same process varying only in amount.
This occurs in clean, incised wounds with good apposition of the edges – particularly planned surgical incisions.
This occurs in open wounds, particularly when there has been significant loss of tissue, necrosis or infection.
Complications
Later, contracture may cause serious cosmetic and functional disability, particularly in deep and extensive skin burns and around joints if muscles are badly damaged.
The formation of excess collagen in the form of thick interlacing bundles which causes marked swelling at the site of the wound is known as a KELOID. The essential cause is unknown. It is particularly common in black people.
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