What is Specialized Wound Care?

Specialized Wound Care for the Foot & Ankle

Advanced Healing for Chronic and Non-Healing Wounds

Specialized wound care is a comprehensive medical approach focused on healing chronic wounds of the lower extremities, particularly those that have failed to heal within a normal timeframe. The foot is especially vulnerable to non-healing wounds due to pressure from walking and conditions like diabetes and poor circulation. A simple break in the skin can become a serious, limb-threatening problem if not managed by an expert.

As specialists in the foot and ankle, our team is at the forefront of wound care. At City Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine, our team of wound care specialists utilizes advanced techniques to treat the underlying cause of the wound, prevent infection, and create the optimal environment for your body to heal.

Why is Specialized Wound Care Necessary?

A non-healing wound on the foot or ankle is a serious medical concern. It serves as an open gateway for bacteria, which can lead to severe complications, including:

• Cellulitis (infection of the skin)
• Osteomyelitis (infection of the bone)
• Sepsis (a life-threatening systemic infection)
• Amputation

For individuals with diabetes, neuropathy (nerve damage), or peripheral artery disease (poor circulation), the risk is significantly higher. Prompt, specialized wound care is the most effective way to prevent these outcomes and preserve your limb.

Types of Wounds We Treat

Our team has extensive experience in managing all types of lower extremity wounds, including:

• Diabetic Foot Ulcers: The most common type of wound we treat, often caused by pressure on an area with little or no sensation.
• Venous Stasis Ulcers: Typically located on the ankle, caused by poor vein function.
• Arterial (Ischemic) Ulcers: Resulting from inadequate blood flow to the lower leg and foot.
• Pressure Ulcers: Caused by prolonged, unrelieved pressure on a specific bony area.
• Post-Surgical Wounds: Wounds that have difficulty healing after an operation.
• Traumatic Wounds: Complicated punctures or injuries that fail to close properly.

Our Approach: The Pillars of Wound Healing

Effective wound healing is a systematic process. Our approach is built on several key pillars of care:

1. Diagnosis and Assessment: We first determine the underlying cause of the wound. We assess blood flow, check for nerve damage, and identify any structural deformities. The wound is measured and staged to track its progress.
2. Debridement: This is a crucial step where we remove any unhealthy, dead, or infected tissue (slough, eschar) from the wound bed. This process is essential to stimulate healing and allow healthy new tissue to grow.
3. Infection Control: We keep the wound clean and use advanced dressings with antimicrobial properties. If an infection is present, a course of antibiotics will be prescribed.
4. Moisture Balance: Healing tissue requires a specific level of moisture. We use a wide array of advanced wound dressings (foams, gels, alginates) to maintain the perfect balance, promoting cell growth.
5. Off-loading: This is the most important pillar for foot wounds. To heal, a wound must be protected from pressure. Off-loading involves completely relieving pressure from the wound area using devices like a total contact cast, a walking boot, crutches, or a wheelchair.

Advanced Wound Care Modalities

For particularly challenging wounds, we may utilize advanced therapies to accelerate healing, including:

• Bio-engineered Skin Substitutes and Grafts
• Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (Wound VAC)
• Specialized Topical Growth Factors

Your Role in the Healing Process

Wound healing is a partnership between you and your provider. Your active participation is vital for success.

• Follow all off-loading instructions without exception. Every step on an unprotected wound can erase days of healing.
• Keep your dressings clean and dry.
• Manage your underlying medical conditions, especially your blood sugar if you have diabetes.
• Eat a healthy diet rich in protein to provide your body with the building blocks for new tissue.
• Attend all your scheduled follow-up appointments.

Don’t Wait on a Non-Healing Wound

Early and expert intervention is the key to preventing serious complications. If you have a sore or ulcer on your foot or ankle that isn’t healing, contact our specialists immediately.Feel free to call us or Book your Appointment online.