Original Article

Journal of Investigative Dermatology (1979) 73, 88–91; doi:10.1111/1523-1747.ep12532775

Wound Healing and Aging

William H Goodson III and Thomas K Hunt

Department of Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, California, U.S.A.

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Abstract

There are "natural delays" in the healing of older individuals. Open wounds contract more slowly and incised wounds gain strength more slowly. Experimental studies indicate that cellular proliferation, wound metabolism, and collagen remodeling occur later in old animals. Clinical studies show, however, that operations can be performed safely in elderly patients and that the major increased risk to these patients is of non wound medical complications that affect the wound.

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