Patient factor
Adverse impact on healing
Age
Extremes of aged and youth
Weight
Extremes of obesity and cachexia
Nutrition
Negative protein balance
Blood supply
Ischemia and edema
Immune function
Immunosuppression
Chronic disease
Overall poor response to tissue trauma
Radiation therapy
Negative tissue response
Chemotherapy
Negative tissue response
Previous surgical scar at wound site
Negative impact on healing
14.3 Phases of Wound Healing
Once a surgical wound is created, a cascade of events is set into motion. In the time immediately after the incision, platelets aggregate at the injury site to form a fibrin clot, which reduces active bleeding and creates the initial phases of hemostasis. This process is dependent upon the platelet level and function, fibrin, and the overall hormonal response.