Emergency management of chronic wounds.

As America's emergency departments witness an increase in care provided to an aging population, the emergency physician increasingly evaluates and treats manifestations of chronic disease. Nonhealing wounds are often a presenting manifestation of chronic disease. They are a source of pain and disability for this population. Emergency physicians should possess a fundamental knowledge in the management of chronic wounds. This article familiarizes the emergency physician with the epidemiology of chronic wounds, the physiology of tissue repair, the pathophysiology involved in wound healing failure, the common types of chronic wounds, and specific management strategies.