The acutely traumatic wound has a broad phenoptype: from superficial abrasions to full-thickness thermal burns. It is crucial that practitioners can identify complex wounds that warrant referral to a plastic surgery unit for specialist assessment. The scar is the final sequela of dermal injury. Under optimal conditions it will mature and become barely perceptible with time; if poorly managed, or in patients at risk from abnormal scarring, it may cause significant functional and psychosocial impairment. The methods by which wound healing should be optimised to achieve a favourable outcome are explored within this paper.
