Wound Healing

A 28-year-old woman undergoes surgical excision of a benign skin lesion on her back. During the follow-up visits, she develops a hypertrophic scar. Which is the most common cause of hypertrophic scar formation in this patient?

A 28-year-old woman undergoes skin biopsy for a chronic non-healing ulcer on the leg that has persisted for 3 months despite standard wound care. Clinically, the ulcer has a punched-out appearance with minimal granulation tissue. Which investigation would best assess the degree of fibroblast proliferation and collagen deposition to determine if the wound is progressing through the proliferative phase?

A 32-year-old man presents to the emergency department 6 hours after a knife laceration to his forearm. The wound is 5 cm long, moderately contaminated with soil, and the edges are irregular. On examination, there is active bleeding and the subcutaneous tissue is visible. What is the most appropriate next step in management?

A 32-year-old woman undergoes elective cesarean section for breech presentation. On postoperative day 5, the surgical wound shows erythema, warmth, and serous drainage. On examination, the wound edges are well-approximated but the surrounding tissue is edematous. Histologically, the wound shows prominent fibroblast activity, neovascularization, and early collagen deposition. Which phase of wound healing is predominantly occurring at this stage?

A 32-year-old man presents with a surgical wound that has failed to heal 6 weeks after appendicectomy. Clinical examination reveals erythema, induration, and purulent discharge. The wound edges are not approximated. Which investigation is most appropriate to identify the causative organism and guide antimicrobial therapy?