Wound care in the 21st century: lessons from ancient Egypt

Wound care is becoming increasingly important to geriatricians and long-term care providers. Although pressure ulcers have recently taken the spotlight, wound care actually involves many other types of lesions found commonly in the nursing home environment. Physicians of ancient Egypt were experts in the art and science of healing wounds, as revealed by examination of the Smith Papyrus, one of the oldest medical texts in existence. Today, wound healing is no longer emphasized in medical training and practice. However, long-term care physicians and medical directors are in a perfect position to elevate wound care to its formerly preeminent position in medicine. To reach this goal, an agenda needs to be set for physician education on the techniques and tools of wound healing, including prevention, interdisciplinary collaboration, documentation, and correct choice of products.