The role of oxidized regenerated cellulose/collagen in chronic wound repair. Part 2.

Normal wound healing is a carefully controlled balance of new tissue formation and destructive processes necessary to remove damaged tissue. Within this complex environment many points of regulation precisely control the biological processes necessary to achieve normal wound repair. An alteration in any of these physiological processes can lead to the formation of a chronic wound. In general, chronic wounds are characterized by a prolonged inflammatory phase, which ultimately results in elevated protease activity and the subsequent degradation of growth factors and other positive wound healing factors; the overall effect is impaired healing.