Spinecare Topics
The Healing Spine
- Reduced Blood Supply: Injury to tissues that have a poor blood supply lead to a slower healing process. There are numerous tissues of the spine that are poorly vascularized or avascular.
- Separation of Tissues: Physical separation of tissue can significantly impair the course of healing. This can occur in superficial and deep tissues.
- Muscle Spasms: Muscle spasm can place abnormal physical stresses on compromised tissue. It can also prevent approximation of tissue and proper scar tissue formation.
- Tissue Atrophy: Tissue atrophy refers to a loss of tissue or tissue volume that can begin shortly after tissue compromise. Appropriate stress or strain placed upon tissue during the healing process will help prevent or retard atrophy.
- Infection: The presence of infection within an injured region of the spine will delay the healing process. A persistent infection can lead to prolongation of edema and may contribute to the development of excessive scar tissue.
- Keloids and Hypertrophic Scar: Keloids occur when the rate of collagen production exceeds the rate of collagen breakdown during the maturation-remodeling phase of healing. This process can lead to excessive hypertrophy of scar tissue particularly around the periphery of the wound. Some individuals are prone to develop a greater degree of scar tissue within the spine after as a result of surgery.
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