Wound care

• Phase one — This is when special cells gather to form a seal around damaged blood vessels and nerves while other cells start cleaning the wound.
• Phase two — Growth factors, which are found in the proteins of certain types of blood cells, stimulate the formation of new connective tissue to promote wound healing.
• Phase three — In the final steps of healing, collagen forms and provides the structure and strength the body needs to create a new outer layer of skin.

Factors that prevent wound healing

• Certain conditions, such as diabetes and vascular disorders
• Infections
• Insufficient blood supply
• Insufficient flow of oxygen
• Malnutrition
• Medical treatments, such as radiation therapy, chemotherapy and steroid medications
• Smoking

Prevention of chronic wounds

We are passionate about preventive care. To reduce the chances of your wound developing into a chronic wound, keep the following precautions in mind:

• Visit your healthcare provider promptly if you have an injury. Even minor conditions, such as skin tears, can develop into chronic wounds.
• Notify your provider if your wound is not healing after one month of treatment.
• Keep pressure off the wounded area.
• If you have diabetes, focus on controlling your blood glucose level through diet, exercise and any prescribed medication. Abnormal glucose levels can interrupt the healing process.
• If you have diabetes or vascular disease, practice proper foot care and always wear properly fitting shoes.

The type of wound treatment that is right for you will depend on the type of wound you have, as well as if any underlying conditions are preventing healing.

Our wound care doctors will perform a comprehensive evaluation of your wound. From there, they will create a personalized wound healing plan, which may include one or more of the following techniques:

• Alleviation of weight-bearing wounds — Using special casts or boots on the foot, we can relieve pressure to treat foot ulcers.
• Antibiotics — These medications may be used to prevent infection and may be administered for four to six weeks.
• Blood sugar control — Adjustments in diet or medications can be made to achieve optimal blood sugar control, as high blood sugar weakens the immune system.
• Debridement — This involves the removal of dead tissue around the wound, which cleans the wound and promotes healing.
• Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) — Also called hyperbaric medicine, this specialized therapy involves breathing in pure oxygen while inside a pressurized hyperbaric chamber. The increase in oxygen in the blood promotes healing at the wound site.
• Skin grafts — Various types of skin grafts may be used to speed up the healing of wounds.
• Specialty wound dressings — Medicines and dressings are used to encourage wounds to close and heal.
• Surgery — Surgical procedures may be necessary to improve blood flow, which helps heal the wound and prevent amputations or other complications.

• Physicians with advanced training in wound management
• Nurses trained in chronic wound care
• Technologists trained in all aspects of wound healing
• Physical and occupational therapists
• Specialists in vascular care, orthopedic care, infectious disease management, nutritional management, pain management and diabetic education