Management of minor acute cutaneous wounds: importance of wound healing in a moist environment

Abstract

Moist wound care has been established as standard therapy for chronic wounds with impaired healing. Healing in acute wounds, in particular in minor superficial acute wounds - which indeed are much more numerous than chronic wounds - is often taken for granted because it is assumed that in those wounds normal phases of wound healing should run per se without any problems. But minor wounds such as small cuts, scraps or abrasions also need proper care to prevent complications, in particular infections. Local wound care with minor wounds consists of thorough cleansing with potable tap water or normal saline followed by the application of an appropriate dressing corresponding to the principles of moist wound treatment. In the treatment of smaller superficial wounds, it appears advisable to limit the choice of dressing to just a few products that fulfil the principles of moist wound management and are easy to use. Hydroactive colloid gels combining the attributes of hydrocolloids and hydrogels thus being appropriate for dry and exuding wounds appear especially suitable for this purpose - although there is still a lack of data from systematic studies on the effectiveness of these preparations.

Evaluation of genipin-crosslinked chitosan hydrogels as a potential carrier for silver sulfadiazine nanocrystals

“…Firstly, the moist local environment provided by hydrogels was conducive to wound healing [44]. Kant et al reported the similar results, they found that blank Pluronic F-127 gel gave rise to faster wound healing rate than normal saline due to its ability to provide a moisture environment to the wound surface [45].…”

Moderate intensity physical training accelerates healing of full-thickness wounds in mice

“…This clot releases several chemotactic substances such as vascular endothe- lial growth factor (VEGF), epithelial growth factor (EGF), platelet derived growth factor (PDGF), transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), and immunoregulatory cytokines, providing a provisional matrix that allows cell migration (10). Some investigators divide the inflammatory phase into two distinct stages: 1) early inflammation (24 to 48 h after wounding) characterized by the massive presence of neutrophils, and 2) later inflammation (48 to 72 h after wounding) characterized by the influx of monocytes and macrophages to the wound site in order to remove germs and debris (11). In the phase of granulation tissue formation, the secretion of VEGF (by keratinocytes, macrophages, fibroblasts, platelets, and endothelial cells) attracts endothelial cells that begin to form new capillary tubes (12).…”

The effects of expressive writing before or after punch biopsy on wound healing

“…Hydrocolloid dressings have previously been used in wound healing studies to provide a moist wound healing environment (Kiecolt-Glaser et al, 1995, Korting, Schoellmann & White, 2011. This means that there is faster epithelialisation compared with uncovered wounds and the prevention of eschar formation allows for more accurate assessments of wound reepithelialisation.…”