Cutaneous wound healing: A current perspective

Abstract

Cutaneous wound healing is a dynamic process that involves the integrated action of a number of cell types, the extracellular matrix, and soluble mediators termed cytokines. In recent years considerable advances have been made in the understanding of cell-cell and cellmatrix interaction in cutaneous wound healing. Cutaneous wound healing is especially relevant to oral and maxillofacial surgeons because unsatisfactory healing following the closure of facial lacerations and elective incisions may result in considerable deformity and chronic psychological problems. For example, deformity has been shown to trigger and prolong post-traumatic stress disorder in assault victims. ~ This article outlines current understanding of the processes that occur following soft tissue injury and relates this to the recognition and reduction of morbidity in patients recovering from maxillofacial trauma. The challenge now facing the maxillofacial surgeon is to produce an optimum environment for facial wounds to heal; of particular therapeutic interest is the possibility to modulate the healing facial wound so that healing proceeds with minimal scarring in a fetal fashion. In the future, biomodulation of the wound environment by the application of exogenous cytokines and growth factors may offer considerable potential in minimizing scarring following facial wounding.