Overview of factors affecting ulcer and wound healing

Most ulcers and wounds heal after correcting the underlying pathology and optimising the environment (eg adequate cleansing, perfusion, pressure redistribution, debridement, exudate management).

If wounds do not heal as expected, consider:

• infection
• oedema
• nutritional status
• smoking
• medications
• the general health of the patient (ensure optimal management of comorbidities).

Other considerations include:

• managing pain
• the need for specialist referral
• the setting of care (hospital admission may be useful)
• skin grafting.