Is it Necessary to Reconceptualize Therapeutic Success in Chronic Wounds? A Manifesto on Pain Relief, Functionality, and Quality of Life, rather than Just Closure

Liaquat National Journal of Primary Care · Published 2026-02-06 · DOI 10.37184/lnjpc.2707-3521.8.34

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Abstract

When treating chronic wounds, therapeutic success has traditionally been focused on complete wound closure. However, it is well known that this goal is not easy to achieve and, in many cases, impractical, especially for complex cases, such as older people, people with multiple morbidities, and those living in socially or economically disadvantaged environments. When closure is considered the most critical isolated outcome, patient-related outcomes that significantly affect patients’ overall health, such as pain, functional limitations, and quality of life, are often overlooked. Recently, it has been shown that novel methods, such as topical oxygen therapy, offer advantages beyond epithelialization, helping relieve pain, improve mobility, and increase satisfaction with the therapeutic approach. From a practical perspective and in terms of equitable access to healthcare opportunities, limiting access to these treatments due to economic costs complicates the most complex clinical and human challenges associated with chronic non-healing wounds, such as frequent hospitalizations, prolonged use of antibiotics, disabilities, and ongoing pain. In primary health care, health outcomes such as pain control, maintaining independence, and the ability to perform activities of daily living are directly meaningful to patients and essential for the sustainability of health care models. Therefore, we affirm that therapeutic efficacy in the treatment of chronic wounds should be considered not only in terms of wound closure but also in relation to outcomes such as dignity, functional capacity, and quality of life

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Publication details

Year
2026

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