Generality: Any loss of superficial or deep skin is called wound or ulcer. The difference between the two terms depends on the time of occurrence. When the tissue loss is recent a wound occurs; a prolonged loss of skin is called ulcer. Tissue loss can occur anywhere in the body but they are mostly common in the buttocks (from prolonged pressure while in bed) and in the feet (from poor arterial circulation or diabetes).
Anesthesia: Local for small wounds; intravenous sedation or general anesthesia for larger wounds or those requiring complex closure
Type of Procedure: Treatment options range from debridment with surgical closure (simple closure or skin grafting) to conservative management (the wound is allowed to heal on its own). A very specialized closing technique is the elevation and rotation of local musculocutaneous flaps. Flaps (nearby skin and underlying muscle stretched to close the wound with minimal functional and cosmetic deformities) require a more intense planning and postoperative care.
Recovery Time: It ranges from one day after simple debridment and closure to one to three weeks after specialized skin closing techniques are used (skin graft or flaps). In the case of conservative management, it can take up to several weeks to the wound to heal by itself.
Postoperative Pain: minimal to moderate depending on the technique used.