Which of the following is a local factor affecting wound healing?

• A. Pressure
• B. Age
• C. Nutrition
• D. Immunosuppression

Answer: (A)

Local factors at the wound site, such as pressure, directly influence healing by changing perfusion. When pressure is applied to tissue, it compresses small vessels and reduces capillary blood flow, which cuts down oxygen and nutrient delivery to the wound. Oxygen is essential for each phase of healing—from the inflammatory response to fibroblast activity, collagen synthesis, and new blood vessel formation. Without enough oxygen and substrates, cells can’t function well, delaying epithelialization and increasing the risk of tissue necrosis. That direct effect on the wound environment makes pressure a local factor.

Fun in this context, aging, nutrition, and immunosuppression affect healing from a systemic standpoint. Age reflects the overall regenerative capacity of the body; nutrition affects the availability of substrates needed for tissue repair; immunosuppression weakens the body's ability to fight infection and support healing. These factors influence healing across the whole organism rather than the specific local conditions of the wound.