What is the contraction of the wound?
The wound contraction is to move the edges of the wound towards the center to close. This process is preceded by the healing phase and generally occurs between five and 15 days after the suffering of the original injury. It should not be confused with contracture, which is the formation of dense tissue belts of scar that reduce the range of movement. The skin and tissues are tightened around the contracture and can freeze the limb in a painful position. When the wound contraction, the boundaries of the injury are shortened and tightened when the fibrous tissue begins to form inside and stretches together. This closes injuries, protects basic tissues and lays foundations for maturation. During the last phase the wound is filled and the skin has a chance to drop its normal color and texture, depending on the size and nature of the injury.
Shrikage is an important part of the healing process. During the contraction, the wound may feel slightly tight and it can itch as the tissues heal. Patients may notice that the wound size decreases because withpulls from end to end and side to side. In particular, square wounds tend to tighten during the wound contraction, while irregular and round injuries may develop a distorted shape, as the edges are joined together and begin to fill.
One of the fear of contraction is the risk of contracture. The wound should not be too tightened, or it could create a heavy scarring that limits the range of movement. This may be special concern with full thickness of burns after a large range of body. These injuries are so large that as they are tightening, they can pull against the skin in the region. Patients may need to use physical therapy during healing to maintain flexibility and keep the skin flexible to avoid too tight.
During this phase of healing, it is important to keep the wound clean and dry. Severe injuries can be treated in a hospital environment where nurses can monitor space. Contraction is considered a good sign because it suggests that the injury is readyStart maturation and the patient can be able to go home soon. Complications during wound contraction may include basic infection, contracture and full failure failure.