What it means
Healing goes through overlapping phases: stopping the bleeding (hemostasis), inflammationin-fluh-MAY-shunThe body's protective response to injury or infection, with redness, heat, swelling, pain and sometimes loss of function.Full entry , growth of new tissue (proliferation), and remodeling, in which the scar strengthens over months. A clean surgical cut closed with stitches heals by primary intention, with little scarring. An open wound left to fill in from the bottom heals by secondary intention and takes longer. Good blood flow, oxygen, protein and blood sugar control speed healing; smoking, diabetes, infection, poor nutrition and pressure slow it.
For the nurse
Assess the wound's size, tissue color, drainage and edges at each dressing change. Support healing with protein and fluid intake, glucose control, pressure relief and keeping the wound clean and moist as ordered.
At a glance
| Spanish | cicatrización de heridas |
|---|---|
| Also written | wound-healing |
Related terms
protein
A nutrient made of chains of amino acids that the body uses to build and repair tissue.
debridement
The removal of dead, damaged or infected tissue from a wound so it can heal.
inflammatory response
The body's protective reaction to injury or infection, which brings blood, fluid and white cells to the area.
exudate
Fluid, cells or other material that has leaked out of blood vessels into a wound or tissue.
scar
Tough, fibrous tissue that replaces normal skin or tissue after an injury has healed.