What is wound care?
Wound care specialists receive special training to care for all types of acute and chronic wounds, particularly injuries that are slow to heal. Many of these wounds occur due to a sudden injury, but some are the result of diabetes or surgery.
Are there different types of wounds?
There are many different types of wounds that Brandywine Foot and Ankle Associates treats at their office, including:
Skin conditions
Skin conditions that require wound care include ulcers, chronic fungal feet and toes, severely cracked heels, skin cancer, and nonhealing wounds.
Laceration
A laceration tears the skin, leading to a deep cut. Typically caused by a sharp object, like a knife, a laceration can lead to excessive bleeding and a jagged wound.
Puncture
Puncture wounds cause deep, narrow holes that can be difficult to clean and disinfect. While they typically don’t bleed much, puncture wounds can penetrate deep enough to cause significant internal damage. You can get a puncture wound from a needle, tack, or even an IV.
Abrasion
An abrasion is a rough, painful scrape that doesn’t typically cause much blood. Most abrasions occur due to friction with a hard surface. Examples include road rash or rug burn.
Avulsion
More severe than a laceration, an avulsion is a complete tearing of both the skin and the tissue beneath it. These deep, damaging wounds can bleed heavily and usually only occur after a severe accident, such as a gunshot or an explosion.
Incision
An incision is typically the result of a surgical procedure made by a scalpel or blade. These wounds can be deep and clean, rather than jagged like a laceration. They cut through skin, tissue, muscle, and fat.
Amputation
An amputation is the complete removal of an extremity, such as a finger, toe, arm, or leg. Outside of a freak accident, amputations only occur during surgery.
Why isn’t my wound healing?
A non-healing wound is any type of wound that isn’t healing after four weeks. This lack of improvement can occur for several reasons, including:
- Poor nutrition
- Chronic conditions (diabetes, liver disease, etc.)
- Obesity
- Smoking
- Chemotherapy or radiation
Often, a wound can’t heal on its own if it’s become infected with bacteria and other debris. If you have an infection, bacteria continues to reproduce, penetrating the soft tissue and preventing your wound from healing.
How are wounds treated?
Brandywine Foot and Ankle Associates can determine the right type of wound care for you after evaluating the severity and condition of your wound.
Treatments that can help speed up the wound healing process include:
- Antibiotics
- Compression stockings
- Compression bandages
- Hyperbaric oxygen therapy
- Skin or tissue grafting
- Ultrasound therapy
Brandywine Foot and Ankle Associates also treats certain wounds with debridement, which involves removing dead or damaged tissue to stimulate healing.
For expert wound care, call Brandywine Foot and Ankle Associates or book an appointment online today.
