Current and future developments in the treatment of chronic wounds

Kuen Yeow Chin, Suresh M Anandan,^* Karan Koshal,^* Prashant Gujadhur^*

Department of Plastic Surgery, Wexham Park Hospital, Slough, United Kingdom

^*These authors contributed equally to this work

Abstract: Chronic wounds are common and their incidence has been on the increase. They place an enormous burden on health care services and have a major impact on several aspects of patients' wellbeing. It is vital for clinicians to recognize the complexity of the underlying processes leading to the development of a chronic wound. With this knowledge, the key factors that led to their development in each patient can be identified and appropriate steps taken to address modifiable factors. There is currently a wide range of treatments available for treatment of chronic wounds, with a range of exciting new treatments being developed. This paper aims to give an overview of the common etiology and pathophysiology of chronic wounds followed by a discussion of a range of current and future developments in their treatment.

Keywords: chronic wound, wound healing, cutaneous