Editorial: Wound repair: establishment and development of a new discipline in China

Editorial on the Research Topic Wound repair: establishment and development of a new discipline in ChinaChronic wounds have become a global concern as the population ages and the incidence of obesity, diabetes and vascular disease increases (1).It is estimated that in some countries, approximately 1%-2%, and even up to 10% of the population will experience chronic wounds during their lifetime (2, 3).In the United States, wounds affect approximately 8.2 million of Medicare beneficiaries (4); in Europe, an estimated 1.5-2 million people suffer from acute or chronic wounds (5); in China, chronic wounds affect approximately 50 million people annually (2).Wounds, especially chronic wounds, not only affect the quality of life of patients, but also bring huge physical, psychological and economic burdens to patients and their families, as well as the medical system and society (1,6,7).There are many types of chronic wounds, including pressure ulcers, diabetic ulcers, venous ulcers, arterial ulcers, traumatic ulcers, burn residual wounds, radiation ulcers, and iatrogenic ulcers (8, 9).Due to the complex etiology and clinical manifestations of chronic wounds, wound patients are admitted to multiple clinical departments such as dermatology, endocrinology, orthopedics, burn and plastic surgery, general surgery, trauma surgery, and emergency (9).However, wound management approaches, costs, and outcomes vary widely across departments.To standardize wound management, some hospitals have established wound healing centers (WHCs).The earliest WHC in Denmark was established in 1996, and in China in 1999 (9, 10).Wound treatment has made great progress in the past few decades, and many innovative technologies such as modern debridement, growth factor, bioengineered skin, vacuum sealing drainage (VSD), and new medical dressings have been applied clinically.The experience of the European Wound Management Association, the World Union of Wound Healing Societies, the Danish Wound Healing Society, and the Chinese Wound Healing Team shows that WHCs focused on all types of wounds provides the most effective treatment and care for wound patients, and that the best way to optimize wound treatment is through professional education and training (8-12).Over the past 10 years, more and more WHCs have been established in the Tertiary-Hospitals in China.Although wound patients receive better treatment and care at the WHCs, practitioners have no wound management guidelines to follow.With the in-depth