Mathematical models of wound healing and closure: a comprehensive review

Wound healing is a complex process comprised of overlapping phases and events that work to construct a new, functioning tissue. Mathematical models describe these events and yield understanding about the overall process of wound healing. Generally, these models are focused on only one phase (or a few phases) to explain healing for a specific system. A review of the literature reveals insights as reported on herein regarding the variety of overlapping inputs and outputs for any given type of model. Specifically, these models have been characterized with respect to the phases of healing and their mathematical/physical basis in an effort to shed light on new opportunities for model development. Though all phases of wound healing have been modeled, previous work has focused mostly on the proliferation and related contraction phases of healing with fewer results presented regarding other phases. As an example, a gap in the literature has been identified regarding models to describe facilitated wound closure techniques (e.g., suturing and its effect on resultant scarring). Thus, an opportunity exists to create models that tie the transient processes of wound healing, such as cell migration, to resultant scarring when considering tension applied to skin with given suturing techniques.