Wound Healing and Ulcers of the Skin

Basic Definitions and Introduction.- Natural Course of Wound Repair Versus Impaired Healing in Chronic Skin Ulcers.- Milestones in the History of Wound Healing.- Etiology and Mechanisms of Cutaneous Ulcer Formation.- Determining Etiology: History and Physical Examination.- Determining Etiology: Biopsy and Laboratory Investigation.- Ulcer Measurement and Patient Assessment.- Dressing Materials.- Debridement.- Antibiotics, Antiseptics, and Cutaneous Ulcers.- Topical Antibacterial Agents.- Skin Grafting.- Skin Substitutes and Tissue-Engineered Skin Equivalents.- Human Skin Equivalents: When and How to Use.- Growth Factors.- Drugs, Wound Healing and Cutaneous Ulcers.- Alternative Topical Preparations.- Additional Topical Preparations.- Nutrition and Cutaneous Ulcers.- Therapeutic Approach to Cutaneous Ulcers According to Appearance.- Appendix: Guidelines for Patients and Medical Staff.