The wound healing process.

A dramatic sequence of events accounts for the repair of cutaneous wounds, be they of a surgical or accidental nature. Although our understanding of this process is increasing at a rapid rate, unanswered questions remain. Undoubtedly, as time goes on and knowledge increases, we will gain further insight into the intricacies of the wound healing phenomenon. Physicians, particularly those who perform surgical procedures of the skin, should be familiar with the biologic precepts implicit in the wound healing process. The understanding of these principles will ultimately lead to a more rational approach to wound management, which does not run counter to a meticulously conceived script.