ABSTRACT
LOCAL PROCESS Infl ammation presumably evolved as a process to achieve two principle benefi ts-wound healing and defense against microbiologic invasion. When insults are relatively small (i.e., elective groin hernia wound, facial acne), then the physiology and cellular functions of these two processes can be considered local, somewhat distinct, with little effect on the rest of the body (little systemic effect). But when insults are large (i.e., bilateral femur fractures with bilateral pulmonary contusions, perforated sigmoid diverticulitis), then the similarities between wound healing and host-defense mechanism become more apparent and associated with more evidence of systemic alterations.
