Are You a Candidate?

If you're one of the six million Americans suffering from a slow-healing wound, you know the condition can make life painful and uncomfortable. Wounds not only limit physical capabilities, but they also hamper social interactions. These wounds can cause severe health risks and may result in life-threatening infections, possible amputation and debilitating health problems.
Our Wound care Center is designed to provide relief for chronic wound sufferers.

What Causes Non-Healing Wounds?

Chronic and non-healing wounds can result from a number of factors, including diabetes, poor circulation, trauma, vascular disease, and immobility (which can lead to pressure ulcers, commonly known as bed sores). People with diabetes are at particular risk. If you have a wound that won’t heal, you are not alone. Approximately 3 million to 5 million Americans experience this condition. The good news is that you no longer have to suffer. The Wound Care Center not only uses among the most advanced therapies available for healing, but it also addresses the underlying cause of the wound—for example, nutrition, lack of exercise, hygiene, ill-fitting shoes—to help eliminate recurrence.

Treatments

About one-third of foot ulcers will heal within 20 weeks with good wound care treatments.  
Some treatments are as follows:

• In virtually all cases, wound care requires debridement, which is the removal of injured tissue until only healthy tissue remains. Debridement may be accomplished using chemical (enzymes), surgical, or mechanical (eg. irrigation) means. 
• Hospitalization and intravenous antibiotics for up to 28 days may be needed

Number of investigative measures include the following:

•       A number of treatments (Dermagraft, Apligraf, Regranex) are now available that stimulate new cell growth and help heal skin ulcers or use cultures of human skin cells.
•       Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor, or G-CSF (filgrastim, Neupogen, Amgen) is showing promise as an effective alternative to antibiotics, accelerates healing and significantly reduces the need for surgery.
•       Total-contact casting (TCC). This approach uses a cast that is designed to contact the exact contour of the foot and distribute weight along the entire length of the foot.

      A device that compresses the foot (NuPulse) appears to increase the circulation, reduces edema (swelling), and improves wound healing.

      Charcot foot is initially treated with strict immobilization of the foot and ankle.

Factors in Wound Care

When the body's natural healing process is delayed or hindered, a wound can become an ongoing medical problem. Many factors can slow down the healing process. These include:

Local Factors - conditions that occur at the side of the wound, such as:

• Prolonged pressure
• Dryness
• Swelling
• Infection
• Tissue death (necrosis)

Systematic Factors - conditions that affect the entire body and are not specifically related to the wound site, such as:

• Age 
• Physical build 
• Chronic diseases
• Inadequate nutrition
• Poor circulation
• A compromised immune system
        

 Are You a Candidate?

If you suffer from a chronic or non-healing wound, speak with your physician about our Wound Care Center. You may be a candidate for our outpatient program. If you are, the Wound Care Center will work with you and your doctor to deliver:

• Advanced therapies
• Proven clinical protocols
• An individualized, comprehensive plan of care that brings you the most appropriate and effective treatments for your particular needs
• Assessment and ongoing care
• Thorough training for you and your family on caring for the wound at home
• Education materials and resources related to prevention, nutrition, hygiene and other key topics for you and your family
• Ongoing communication so that you and your doctor stay informed and up-to-date on all aspects of your healing.