The newer surgical dressings and wound healing

In summary, there are a variety of new synthetic surgical dressing materials available today. Although individual physician preferences and differences in the type of injury may determine which of these membranes is utilized in a given clinical situation, they all serve to speed the rate of epithelialization, to decrease motion within the healing wound, to decrease postoperative pain, and to minimize the potential for bleeding and infection. For all of these reasons, a complete knowledge of these dressings and their uses will greatly enhance the surgeon's ability to care more satisfactorily for the patient with a cutaneous wound.