1. Soft Tissue Healing

2. Objectives
Understand the terminology involved in the phases of soft tissue healing
Identify and explain the phases of soft tissue healing
Contrast the phases of soft tissue healing

3. Terminology
Vasoconstriction - blood vessels become narrow and limit flow
Vasodilation - blood vessels widen to increase flow
Leukocytes - white blood cells fight injury/infection
Phagocytosis - clean up and digestion of damaged or foreign particles
Exudate - discharge of blood elements into tissue spaces
Hypoxia - lack of oxygen

4. Terminology
Fibroplasia - second phase of tissue healing in which collagen fiber meshwork is formed; scar formation
Fibroblast - cell that contributes to formation of connective tissue fibers
Collagen - extracellular proteins that from connective tissue between cells
Synthesis - development
Avascular - without blood flow

5. Acute Inflammatory Response Phase
0-4 days post-injury
Purpose:
Formation of a clot
Send cells in to clean and prepare area for scar tissue

6. Acute Inflammatory Response Phase
Vasoconstriction 5-10 min
Clotting factors activated
Vasodilation up to 36 hours post-injury
Leukocytes and phagocytic cells sent in
Cell walls more permeable so increase in exudate

7. Acute Inflammatory Response Negatives
There will be cell death due to:
Trauma to involved tissue
Hypoxia of surrounding healthy tissue
Exposure to phagocytic enzymes by surrounding tissues
Prolonged inflammation will increase amount of cells damaged

8. Proliferation Phase (Fibroplasia)
Few hours post-injury to up to 6 weeks
Formation of granulation tissue which includes:
Capillaries
Fibroblasts
Collagen synthesis
Random placement of collagen
Increasing strength of scar tissue
Proliferation Phase (Fibroplasia)

9. Maturation Phase Can last 1 year or more
Location of injury, amount of damage will affect
Unorganized collagen matrix begins to align based on tensile strength
Scar tissue is:
Generally weaker than original tissue
Inelastic
Avascular