Abstract

WOUND HEALING: A CRITICAL REVIEW

Dr. Hema Goswami* and Dr. Ajay Kumar Gupta

ABSTRACT

Wound healing is a complex phenomenon. A good clinician should have a very clear definition of the mechanism of wound healing. Healing of every wound is a continuous process. The healing process can be devided into phases which describe the morphological alterations in the course of the repair process. The usual division is into four healing phases, viz. haemostasis, inflammation, proliferation and maturation. It is a complex process requiring the collaborative efforts of a number of different tissues and cell mediators. In Ayuvedic literature, particularly in Sushruta Samhita, a vast description of etiology, pathogenesis, classification and treatment of the wounds is available. As far as the healing of a wound is concerned, detailed clinical features of each phase of healing has been mentioned. Understanding of these features is very important for the successful management of the wounds. Even in today’s era when we have a vast knowledge of the mechanism of healing at the cellular level, the clinical presentation as described in Ayurvedic literature is of great value. Critical analysis of the phased mannered features of wound healing described in ancient Indian texts reveals that they still stand true in the present time. This paper is an effort to elaborate and interpret these clinical features of wound healing according to the present day understanding.

Keywords: Vrana, Wound, Wound healing.