Definitions and guidelines for assessment of wounds and evaluation of healing

TLDR

Chronic wounds pose a global health problem, necessitating a shared terminology for research. The study aims to create a language that incorporates wound classification, a lexicon of descriptors, and the processes influencing healing and its endpoints. The report defines core wound terms and shows their usefulness in skin wound healing, with applicability to all wound types.

Abstract

Chronic wounds represent a worldwide problem. For laboratory and clinical research to adequately address this problem, a common language needs to exist. This language should include a system of wound classification, a lexicon of wound descriptors, and a description of the processes that are likely to affect wound healing and would healing end points. The report that follows defines wound, acute wound, chronic wound, healing and forms of healing, wound assessment, wound extent, wound burden, and wound severity. The utility of these definitions is demonstrated as they relate to the healing of a skin wound, but these definitions are broadly applicable to all wounds.