Reconstructive surgery plays an integral role in helping restore form and function in patients with complex oncologic wounds. The intricate process of wound healing can be adversely affected by exposure to chemotherapeutic and radiation therapies. Assessment of available donor tissue quality, previous radiation therapy, vascular status, and donor site morbidity are essential when determining the most appropriate reconstructive approach for definitive wound management. The timing of reconstruction in relation to chemotherapy or radiotherapy regimens influences wound healing. Additionally, the timing of reconstruction is important in order to avoid delaying additional adjuvant therapies. Optimizing nutritional status is critical for improved patient outcomes in the oncologic patient population. At times, palliative efforts by means of surgical debulking are required of a reconstructive surgeon as advanced cancers can leave patients with disfiguring, fungating masses.
This review contains 9 figures, and 44 references.
Keywords: wounds in cancer, wounds in the cancer patient, oncologic wounds, oncologic wound healing, oncologic wound management, wound complications, effect of chemotherapy on wound healing, effect of radiation therapy on wound healing, oncologic reconstruction