Trauma/Wound Care Overview
Four Phases of Healing
Typically, absent the use of extracellular matrix technology, there are four phases to the process of healing a wound:
- The Inflammatory Phase involves bleeding, narrowing of blood vessels, clot formation, and release of chemical substances that will begin healing.
- Next is the Proliferative Phase in which a matrix or latticework of cells begins to form scar tissue.
- The Remodeling Phase begins after 2-3 weeks when the matrix becomes more organized, strengthening the scar tissue.
- The Epithelialization Phase is the process of laying down new skin covering the scar tissue.
Efforts to improve wound care treatment have focused on developing anti-inflammatory drugs and improving surgical techniques, neither of which address the disfiguration and loss of function associated with scarring.
A Revolutionary Breakthrough
Regenerative medicine represents a revolutionary breakthrough in wound healing. Extracellular Matrix (ECM) is the material which holds cells together in the bodies of all mammals. ECM is like an information super highway loaded with information telling cells to grow, divide, and differentiate.
The ACell Vet product includes a combination of ECM, growth factors, and proteins which stimulate and guide the process of tissue regeneration.
The body recognizes the ECM signals and recruits the appropriate cell factors which differentiate according to what they should be. The process is a recapitulation of developmental biology.
