Pathophysiology of chronic wounds: literature review
Erik Hakobyan1,*, Lyudmila Simonyants1, Semyon Orduyan2
1 Faculty of General Medicine, Heratsi Yerevan State Medical University, Yerevan, Armenia
2 Department of Operative Surgery and Topographic Anatomy, Heratsi Yerevan State Medical
ABSTRACT
The skin acts as a strong barrier against a variety of pathogenic factors from the external environment, but when its integrity is compromised, a wound forms. Some wounds fail to go through the traditional healing stages and stagnate in a self-perpetuating inflammatory phase; chronic wounds that do not heal within 4 to 8 weeks include diabetic foot ulcers, venous leg ulcers, and pressure ulcers. In these cases, factors such as ischemia/reperfusion injury, local hypoxia, bacterial colonization, and associated pathologic cellular changes interfere with the normal wound healing process. While the underlying causes and specific cellular alterations vary among different types of chronic wounds, common pathological features are evident. Understanding these common mechanisms is critical for elucidating chronic wound pathophysiology and identifying targeted therapeutic interventions. This review comprehensively examines the key pathogenetic mechanisms involved in chronic wound formation and highlights areas where further research could enhance treatment strategies.
*Corresponding author: +37495504084, erik_hakobyan_2020@bk.ru
Keywords: chronic wound, diabetic foot, venous ulcer, pressure ulcer