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Acta Vulnologica 2014 June;12(2):81-100

Copyright © 2014 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English, Italian

Diagnostic and therapeutic procedures for skin lesions

Basso G. ¹, Scalise A. ², Marazzi M. ³, Tosca M. C. ³, Sgrò A. ³, Manasseri B. ³, Antonioli B. ³, Galuzzi M. ³, Pierangeli M. ², Tartaglione C. ², Torre M. L. ⁴, Chlapanidas T. ⁴, Rapisarda V. ¹

¹ S.C. Plastic Surgery and Serious Burns Centre, Niguarda Ca’ Granda Hospital, Milan, Italy; ² Clinic of Reconstructive and Plastic Surgery, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria, Ospedali Riuniti, Ancona, Italy; ³ S.S. Tissue Therapy, Difficult Wound Clinic, Regional Centre for the In‑vitro Culture of Human Epidermis and Tissue Cryopreservation Bank, Niguarda Ca’ Granda Hospital, Milan, Italy; ⁴ Department of Drug Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy

Skin ulcers are a problem and a constant challenge, from a clinical perspective and because of their social and economic implications, because of the high number of patients, the difficulties of healing and the long treatment times, which inevitably imply higher costs. In order to improve these aspects, it is essential to lay down guidelines or specific diagnostic-therapeutic procedures, which can consider the skin lesion in context and can standardise action plans, which are too often discordant or in conflict. In this context, the prevention and treatment of infection is an important starting point to encourage the repair process, which must be associated with careful cleansing and pain treatment and, in some cases, reconstructive surgery. Where dressings are concerned, the best results in terms of healing – both shorter healing times and a better outcome – are achieved thanks to the innovative principles of regenerative medicine, which relies on the combined use of advanced dressings and tissue engineering products. The former create an excellent environment for the healing process, while the latter interact and stimulate the various stages of repair.