The History of Wound Healing

Tiffany Brocke; Justin Barr

doi:10.1016/j.suc.2020.04.004

The History of Wound Healing

Surg Clin North Am. 2020 Aug;100(4):787-806. doi: 10.1016/j.suc.2020.04.004. Epub 2020 Jun 17.

Authors

Tiffany Brocke¹, Justin Barr²

Affiliations

¹ Johns Hopkins University, 2418 East Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA.
² Department of Surgery, Duke University, DUMC 3443, Durham, NC 27710, USA; Department of History, Duke University, DUMC 3443, Durham, NC 27710, USA. Electronic address: justin.barr@duke.edu.

PMID: 32681877
DOI: 10.1016/j.suc.2020.04.004

Abstract

Since the dawn of humanity, wounds have afflicted humans, and healers have held responsibility for treating them. This article tracks the evolution of wound care from antiquity to the present, highlighting the roles of surgeons, scientists, culture, and society in the ever-changing management of traumatic and iatrogenic injuries.

Keywords: Antibiotics; Bacteria; Empiricism; Healing; History; Humors; Surgery; Wound.

Publication types

Historical Article
Review

MeSH terms

Anti-Bacterial Agents / history
Anti-Infective Agents, Local / history
Armed Conflicts / history
Egypt, Ancient
Greece, Ancient
History, 15th Century
History, 16th Century
History, 17th Century
History, 18th Century
History, 19th Century
History, 20th Century
History, Ancient
History, Medieval
Humans
Military Medicine / history
Paintings
Roman World / history
Wound Healing / physiology*
Wound Infection / history
Wound Infection / prevention & control
Wounds and Injuries / history*

Substances

Anti-Bacterial Agents
Anti-Infective Agents, Local