Which laboratory result suggests the presence of chronic wound inflammation?

A higher erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) indicates chronic inflammation in the body, making it a significant laboratory result when assessing the presence of chronic wound inflammation. An ESR of 40 mm/hour is elevated, suggesting that there is an ongoing inflammatory process. In the context of wounds, this can reflect persistent inflammatory activity, potentially due to factors like infection, insufficient blood supply, or underlying health issues that impair normal healing.

In contrast, a white blood cell count of 8000/mm3 is generally considered within the normal range for a healthy individual and does not indicate chronic inflammation. A serum albumin level of 4.0 g/dL is also normal and would be reflective of a good nutritional status, which typically supports healing rather than suggesting ongoing inflammation. The partial thromboplastin time of 16 seconds is related to coagulation and does not directly relate to inflammation or wound healing status.

Therefore, among the provided options, the erythrocyte sedimentation rate serves as a clear indicator of chronic inflammation in the context of wound healing.