Wound Care Specialist

What is wound care?

Wound care refers to specialized medical treatments to heal ulcers (nonhealing wounds). When you're healthy with normal circulation and no underlying issues, wounds usually repair themselves within days or weeks. 

But, in certain situations, normal healing doesn't happen, and your wound grows deeper and larger to become an ulcer that won't heal. In those circumstances, wound healing may be the only way to recover.

When might I need wound care? 

You may need wound care if you have a nonhealing or slow-healing ulcer. In general, you may need wound care if your wound isn't improving within two weeks or if you're not fully healed in six weeks.

The most common kinds of ulcers requiring wound care are:

Diabetic foot ulcers

People with diabetes commonly experience nerve damage (neuropathy) and blood vessel damage (peripheral arterial disease), especially in their feet. It's also common to have reduced immune system function when you have diabetes. These factors can combine to cause wounds that develop, quickly worsen, and then don't heal properly.

Vascular disease

When valves within your veins don't function properly, you can develop a variety of issues, including varicose veins and venous stasis ulcers. Usually appearing in the lower leg, this type of ulcer happens because of blood pooling. Because your circulation is poor in that area, it's difficult to heal this kind of ulcer.

Although these are the most common kinds of nonhealing ulcers, you could also need wound care for other types of ulcers, including those that develop after a sports injury, surgery, or other circumstances. If you're at risk for infection or even limb loss, you need expert wound care as soon as possible.

How does wound care work? 

Wound care at Texas Heart and Vein Multispecialty Group starts with a full evaluation of your wound and medical history, as well as specific diagnostic testing to identify underlying conditions. Your treatment may include:

• Wound cleansing
• Topical medication
• Oral medication
• Wound dressing changes
• Hyperbaric oxygen therapy
• Ultrasound therapy
• Growth factor therapy
• Debridement (necrotic tissue removal)
• Skin grafts
• Compression therapy

The specific treatment plan depends on the severity of the wound. You'll need more aggressive treatment for severe ulcers. That may include limb salvage surgery to reconstruct your leg and prevent amputation. 

The compassionate specialists at Texas Heart and Vein Multispecialty Group offer customized wound care for every situation, so call the office in your area or click on the online booking button.