A finite-element model for healing of cutaneous wounds combining contraction, angiogenesis and closure

Journal article (2011)
Department
Delft Institute of Applied Mathematics (EEMCS) (TU Delft)
Copyright: This article is published with open access at Springerlink.com
DOI: https://doi.org/doi:10.1007/s00285-011-0487-4
Wound healing Angiogenesis Finite-element method Wound closure Wound contraction
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Published Date

10-11-2011

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Source:

Journal of Mathematical Biology, 2011

ISSN:

0303-6812

Source:

http://www.springerlink.com/content/tv7017504524h6r4/

Faculty

Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science

Department

Delft Institute of Applied Mathematics

Abstract

A simplified finite-element model for wound healing is proposed. The model takes into account the sequential steps of dermal regeneration, wound contraction, angiogenesis and wound closure. An innovation in the present study is the combination of the aforementioned partially overlapping processes, which can be used to deliver novel insights into the process of wound healing, such as geometry related influences, as well as the influence of coupling between the various existing subprocesses on the actual healing behavior. The model confirms the clinical observation that epidermal closure proceeds by a crawling and climbing mechanism at the early stages, and by a stratification process in layers parallel to the skin surface at the later stages. The local epidermal oxygen content may play an important role here. The model can also be used to investigate the influence of local injection of hormones that stimulate partial processes occurring during wound healing. These insights can be used to improve wound healing treatments.

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