Understanding the Phases of Wound Healing and the Concepts of Resolution, Regeneration, and Replacement Phases of Wound Healing

Wound healing has four main phases: hemostasis, inflammation, proliferation, and remodeling. Hemostasis happens quickly. After blood leaks from the body, blood vessels constrict to restrict blood flow (Ridhanya & Rajakumari, 2019). This activates the clotting cascade to prevent blood loss (Pihlajaniemi & Heljasvaara, 2019). Inflammation controls bleeding and prevents infections. Pathogens, bacteria, and damaged cells are removed from the injured area during this phase. Inflammation involves redness, swelling and pain (Pihlajaniemi & Heljasvaara, 2019). In proliferation, there is wound rebuilding with collagen fibers and extracellular matrix (Pihlajaniemi & Heljasvaara, 2019). Contrastingly, in the remodeling phase, collagen remodeling from type III to type I results in wound closing (Pihlajaniemi & Heljasvaara, 2019).

Resolution, Regeneration, and Replacement

Resolution is restoring tissue to its original state before an injury. Removing debris from inflammation is sufficient to restore tissues to a pre-injury state (Pihlajaniemi & Heljasvaara, 2019). Subsequently, after removing cellular debris, necrotic parenchymal cells are replaced by new parenchymal cells (Pihlajaniemi & Heljasvaara, 2019). This process is called regeneration. Further, replacement is when severely damaged tissues are repaired by laying down connective tissues (Pihlajaniemi & Heljasvaara, 2019).

Significance of the Oozing and Discoloration

Oozing is a sign of infection in a wound. The liquid oozing from the wound contains white blood cells fighting the infection and bacteria (Ridhanya & Rajakumari, 2019). Oozing helps clean the area. In addition, discoloration may indicate necrosis. Further, necrotic tissues are dark in color, showing that the wound is healing (Ridhanya & Rajakumari, 2019).

Factors Impeding Healing

Oxygenation is critical for cell metabolism. It induces angiogenesis and promotes re-epithelization (Kear, 2019). Poor oxygenation will thus promote wound healing. After injuries, microorganisms will enter the body, resulting in infections. Subsequently, the bacteria may form a biofilm, which hinders wound healing (Kear, 2019). Some bacteria are resistant to antibiotics.

References

Kear, T. (2019). Clinical handbook for Brunner and Suddarth’s textbook of medical-surgical nursing. Wolters kluwer india Pvt.

Pihlajaniemi, T., & Heljasvaara, R. (2019). Faculty opinions recommendation of wound healing: A cellular perspective. Faculty Opinions – Post-Publication Peer Review of the Biomedical Literature. https://doi.org/10.3410/f.734504810.793560506