Use of advanced technologies across the wound care spectrum: prologue.

The growing trends of ageing populations and increasing prevalence of diabetes have given rise to an expanding number of problematic acute and chronic wounds. Over the past two decades, the use of negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) with and without instillation of topical wound solutions has expanded to include treatment of a large variety of wounds. Additionally, the use of NPWT specifically designed for use over closed surgical incisions has been associated with favourable results. The recent introduction of an automated epidermal harvesting system, which neither creates a donor site wound nor requires the use of a surgeon, operating room or anaesthesia, has facilitated the use of epidermal grafting. This supplement highlights some of the advanced wound approaches that have been developed to address challenging wounds and the growing burden of wound care affecting both the patient and the health care system.