Chronic wound / Hard-to-heal wound / Non-healing wound

Definition: Wound that has failed to progress through the phases of healing in an orderly and timely fashion and has shown no significant progress toward healing in 30 days (i.e. hard‑to‑heal wound or non‑healing wound).

In chronic wounds, the wound healing stagnates at the inflammation phase (stalled inflammation), resulting in delayed healing or non-healing wounds. Early local intervention, including wound bed preparation based on the early identification of wounds, is critical to eliminate the barriers impeding the wound healing process.

The most common types of chronic wounds include:
- Venous leg ulcers (VLU)
- Arterial leg ulcers (ALU)
- Diabetic foot ulcers (DFU)
- Pressure ulcers (PU), also referred to as Pressure injuries (PI)

Learn more about and understand how to describe different wound types and the wound healing process, including the distinctions between normal healing in acute wounds and impaired healing in chronic wounds, here: Wounds. Wound Healing: Acute Versus Chronic Wounds 
The LINK for Wound Healing website offers comprehensive guidance and resources for managing chronic wounds. It provides detailed information on the latest treatment methods, the wound healing process, and proper wound care techniques. Additionally, expert advice is provided to help users achieve the best healing outcomes. Visit the LINK for Wound Healing webpage: Home (linkforwoundhealing.info)

For related contents on LINK click here

Related Scientific Contents on LINK

White Paper - Wound Balance: Achieving Wound Healing With Confidence

Wound-QoL questionnaire on quality of life with chronic wounds

Lymphorrhoea as a largely under-recognized problem in exudate management of chronic wounds

International Consensus Document – Wound Care and Skin Tone. Signs, Symptoms and Terminology for all Skin Tones

Harmonised Glossary of Wound Care Terms

International Wound Infection Institute - Slough: Composition, analysis and effect on healing

Lower Leg Ulcer Diagnosis and Principles of Treatment including recommendations for comprehensive assessment and referral Pathways

HydroClean, Made Easy

Longitudinal Evaluation of Biomarkers in Wound Fluids from Venous Leg Ulcers and Splitthickness Skin Graft Donor Site Wounds Treated with a Protease modulating Wound Dressing

Wound hydration versus maceration: understanding the differences

Wound Exudate, Effective Assessment and Management

Management of Chronic Wounds: Diagnosis, Preparation, Treatment, and Follow-up

Cost-effectiveness of superabsorbent wound dressing versus standard of care in patients with moderate-to highly exuding leg ulcers

The Role of Non-Medicated Dressings for the Management of Wound Infection

Effectiveness of a non-medicated wound dressing on attached and biofilm encased bacteria: laboratory and clinical evidence

A new approach to the debridement and treatment of chronic wounds in Hong Kong and Taiwan

A new approach to the debridement and treatment of chronic wounds in Hong Kong and Taiwan

The clinical impact of hydro-responsive dressings in dynamic wound healing: Part II

HydroTherapy, Made Easy

Advances in Wound Care: The triangle of wound assessment

A multicentre, clinical evaluation of a hydro-responsive wound dressing: the Glasgow experience

Zetuvit Plus Silicone Border, Made Easy

Clinical assessment of a foam dressing containing growth factor enhancing hydrated polyurethanes

Treatment of 52 patients with a self-adhesive siliconised superabsorbent dressing: a multicentre observational study

An Observational study of wounds treated with hydro-responsive wound dressings

Hydro-Responsive Wound Dressings for the treatment of chronic wounds: A narrative review of the clinical evidence

The epithelialisation phase in wound healing: options to enhance wound closure

International Consensus Document – Wound Care and Skin Tone. Signs, Symptoms and Terminology for all Skin Tones

European Society for Vascular Medicine (ESVM) – Guideline on peripheral arterial diseas

A retrospective audit of the treatment of wounds with moderate to high exudate levels

Hydroresponsive dressings - a good option to manage longterm failures of chronic wounds

The inhibition of matrix metalloproteinase activity in chronic wounds by a polyacrylate superabsorber

Management of patients with venous leg ulcers. Challenges and current best practice

Evaluation of a superabsorbent wound dressing, patient and clinician perspective: a case series

Global vascular guidelines on the management of chronic limb-threatening ischemia

Clinical comparision of chronic wounds healing based on four three patients using dual dressing hydrotherapy

Effects of exudate physical, chemical and thermal conditions on collective migration of tissue-repairing cells: Mechanobiological studies

 

Related E-Learning Courses on LINK

Skin Structure and Functions

Wounds. Wound Healing: Acute Versus Chronic Wounds

Diabetic Foot Ulcers (DFU)

Leg Ulcers

Matrix Metallo-Proteinases roles in Wound Healing – Importance of moisture in Wound Healing

Compression Therapy

Clinical Challenges in Exudate Management

Infected Wounds and Therapeutic Approaches

Pressure Ulcer / Pressure Injury (PU/PI)

Surgical Site Infection (SSI)

Epithelialization

Growth Factors in Wound Healing

Central Role of Debridement in Wound Healing

 

Related Webinars on LINK

Clinical Challenges and solutions in Palliative Wound Management

Wound Infection Management: the new international guidelines and therapeutic recommendations

Wound Micro-environment: changing the biochemical marker patterns in chronic wounds

Webinar Quiz with Experts on "The Role of Non-Medicated Wound Dressings for the Management of Wound Infection"

NPWT in Corona time: benefits for medical profesionals and patients. Part 1

NPWT in Corona time: benefits for medical profesionals and patients. Part 2

Impact of Virtual Reality on Wound Care practical training

Webinar on demand - Holding back the tide: Why assessment is vital to exudate management of the lower limb

Webinar on demand - The desired performances of wound dressings for an effective exudate management

The power of compression therapy for leg ulcer management

Management of exuding leg ulcers: critical role of compression therapy and the use of superabsorbent dressings

Pressure Ulcer Prevention: trends and innovations

Telemedicine in Wound Care: the European experience

Advanced Cost - effectiveness models in Chronic Wounds

Appropriate management of lower limb wounds

 

Related Events on LINK

LINK Wound Healing Congress 2021

EPUAP 2022: Pressure Ulcer Prevention & Treatment Approaches

Live Quiz with Experts on "The Role of Non-Medicated Wound Dressings for the Management of Wound Infection"

WUWHS Symposium 2022: Advancement in wound infection and biofilms

Livestream 15th Sept. 2020: "Non-medicated Wound Dressings in Managing Infected Wounds and Wounds with Biofilms"

Last edited: August 6, 2024