The role of the plastic surgeon in wound care

Abstract

Wound healing is multifactorial and requires careful management. Plastic surgeons have an important role in optimizing healing of various wound types, including large wounds; wounds in sensitive areas (eg, face, hands, feet); wounds with exposed vessels, nerves, and bone; and wounds for which SOC is unsuccessful; as well as in the use of advanced biologics. It is important for the primary care physician and ancillary health care team to understand timing and basic wound healing principles to know when to consult a plastic surgeon to optimize wound healing for possible flap or skin graft closure. This literature review discusses principles of wound management as they relate to referral from primary care providers to specialists in plastic surgery and transitions of care, along with indications that warrant plastic surgery consultation and underscore the importance of interdisciplinary communication, understanding, and cooperation in wound management. Careful attention to fundamentals, including nutritional status, wound debridement, and comorbidities, combined with a strong understanding of the aforementioned indications that warrant the involvement of a plastic and reconstructive surgeon, can result in efficient, rapid wound healing at relatively minimal cost.