Bioengineering research of chronic wounds: a multidisciplinary study approach

Pressure-related chronic wounds are an important health concern that affects millions of patients and accumulates billions in annual costs. These wounds may occur when soft tissues are mechanically compressed between bony prominences and a supporting surface. This book gives a complete and quantitative explanation of the mechanobiology which causes chronic wounds. The reviews give an overall picture on all length scales of the phenomenon, starting from musculoskeletal biomechanics to the modeling of soft tissues and their interaction with bones. At the microscopic levels, it thoroughly reviews experiments and modeling of cellular forces and molecular processes that occur during injury and healing, including the integrity of living cells subjected to sustained mechanical forces and deformations. The results allow a complete picture of the tolerance of human tissues to sustained loads, and an understanding of the risk for onset of chronic wounds. Hence, this book is also valuable for all professionals involved in the prevention and treatment of chronic wounds.