Terms to Know: Wound Care Advancement

By the WoundSource Editors

Advanced Treatment Modalities: Wound care interventions that are typically applied when standard of care treatments have failed to lead to significant wound closure progress. Treatments include collagen products, cellular and/or tissue-based products, negative pressure wound therapy, hyperbaric oxygen, and others.

Cellular and/or Tissue-Based Products: Cellular and/or tissue-based products (CTPs) actively promote healing by stimulating the patient’s own cells to regenerate healthy tissue.

Collagen: Collagen is the most abundant protein in the human body. In wound healing, collagen attracts fibroblasts and encourages the deposition of new collagen to the wound bed.

Cytokines: Cytokines are small proteins that signal molecules that mediate and regulate immunity and inflammation.

Extracellular Matrix: The extracellular matrix (ECM) is a three-dimensional network that consists of collagen, enzymes, and glycoproteins that provide structural support to surrounding cells.

Fibroblasts: Fibroblasts synthesize the ECM and collagen and produce a structural framework that is critical in wound healing.

Hypoalbuminemia: Hypoalbuminemia is a condition in which the blood levels of albumin are low. Symptoms include fluid retention resulting in swelling, signs of jaundice, and feelings of weakness or exhaustion.

Hypoxia: Hypoxia is a condition in which a wound is deprived of adequate oxygen at the tissue level.

Keratinocytes: Keratinocytes are a major cellular component of the epidermis and are involved in the initiation, maintenance, and completion of wound healing.

Spreading Infection: Presence of proliferating bacteria outside of the wound border. May affect deep tissue, muscle fascia, organs, or body cavities.

Systemic Infection: Whole body inflammatory response. Presence of cellulitis, osteomyelitis, and/or septicemia.

Thrombospondins: A glycoprotein that contributes to linking matrix proteins and facilitating matrix organization.

The views and opinions expressed in this blog are solely those of the author, and do not represent the views of WoundSource, Kestrel Health Information, Inc., its affiliates, or subsidiary companies.