[Age-related problems of wound healing].

Abstract

A study on wound failures after surgical operations performed at the Dep. of Surgery, Köln-Merheim, revealed an overall rate of 10,8%. 40,3% of all complications were observed in patients aged more than 60 years, which gives a rate of 19,1% for those people. To date this significant increase of wound failures in older individuals is preferently explained by the reduced resistance of the old organism to infections. Our trials with rats as well as numerous publications of other authors on the topic of age-related changes of metabolism prove that the wound healing process is delayed in older individuals. This fact does not consequently lead to complications but the prolonged healing in connection with the repeated change of wound dressing gives an enhanced risk for infections. If special precautions are observed the age of a patient is not a principal contraindication to a great surgical operation today.