Home » Services » Wounds (Non-Healing)

Wound Care

While most wounds heal uneventfully by normal bodily processes, some do not. A problematic wound is typically one that has not healed within 4 weeks.

When wounds fail to heal, the underlying reasons must be identified. These reasons are varied and may include conditions such as infection, uncontrolled diabetes, peripheral arterial disease (PAD), swelling and repeated trauma.

Whatever the cause, non-healing wounds lead to pain, disability, prolonged hospitalizations and impaired quality of life.

Listen to Dr. William Lagaly, Medical Director of the Advanced Wound Healing Center at the Mercy Ambulatory Care Center, discuss wound care on 96.1 WJYE-FM. As a guest on the radio station's 30-minute Spotlight on Health program, Dr. Lagaly explains what a non-healing wound is, when to seek treatment and what to expect during your visit.

Services

Under Program Medical Director Dr. Lee C. Ruotsi, the Catholic Health Advanced Wound Healing Centers focus on the evaluation and treatment of chronic, problematic and non-healing wounds using the latest generation of wound healing technology.

What We Treat

• Ulcers, wounds or sores that will not heal or keep returning; these include diabetic foot and lower extremity ulcers, venous insufficiency ulcers, arterial insufficiency ulcers and pressure ulcers (bedsores)
• Skin grafts and/or flaps that have failed or are in the process of failing
• Surgical wounds that have reopened or in any way have failed to heal
• Edema (swelling) and lymphedema
• Delayed soft tissue radiation injury (i.e. radiation injuries to bowel and bladder)
• Mandibular Osteoradionecrosis (delayed radiation injury to jaw)
• Chronic Osteomyelitis (bone infection that has failed to respond to standard treatment)

Diabetes

Diabetic patients are at increased risk for acquiring foot ulcers that can become non-healing wounds. If you have slow-to-heal wounds due to diabetes complications, we have state-of-the-art solutions that can dramatically accelerate the healing process. In fact, many of our patients heal within half the time. For you, that could mean new relief from the slow, frustrating struggle to heal your wound.

How We Treat Wounds

Treatment may include:

• Individualized dressing management
• Debridement – removal of debris and/or dead tissue from wound
• Bioengineered skin and tissue replacement
• Compression wrapping (for ulcers associated with swollen legs)
• Electrical stimulation (E-Stim) – a treatment in which a very low electrical voltage is applied to the wound in order to stimulate cellular healing elements
• Hyperbaric Oxygen therapy – a treatment in which the patient breathes 100% oxygen while inside a treatment (Hyperbaric) chamber at a pressure that is roughly twice atmospheric pressure. This enriched oxygen environment promotes the development of new blood vessels (angiogenesis) and promotes the growth of new tissue and skin within certain wounds.

Dr. Lee Ruotsi and the Hyperbaric Chamber

• Transcutaneous oxygen testing to determine blood/oxygen supply to wound area

Why Catholic Health?

Advanced Level of Care

At a Catholic Health Advanced Wound Healing center, patients suffering from non-healing wounds have access to proven treatment options provided by credentialed staff who specialize in the latest treatment methods available for the treatment of your wound(s). We work with our colleagues at Catholic Health Partners In Rehab to ensure that each patient receives the appropriate care in the right setting.

Optimal Healing Environment

We understand that a wound is typically the end result of a number of varied medical problems. Through a multidisciplinary approach with your primary care and specialty physicians, our goal is to gain control of all of the factors impacting wound healing in order to place your wound in an optimal environment for healing.

Prevention of Future Wounds

In preparation for the post-healing phase, a comprehensive educational process is in place to help you put the appropriate measures in place to prevent future wound related problems.

---

News

• Hyperbaric oxygen therapy reduces amputation risk in chronic wounds – Modern  Medicine – November 2010
• Patient Story: Paul Returns Home to Western New York

---

Wound Treament Locations

• The Caritas Building at Sisters of Charity Hospital, St. Joseph Campus (Cheektowaga)
• Mercy Ambulatory Care Center (Orchard Park)

Becoming a Patient

A physician referral is not necessary to receive treatment. Please call a location above to schedule a consultation or to receive more information.

Payment

Most insurances are accepted.

The Save A Leg, Save A Life Foundation aims to reduce the number of lower extremity amputations and to improve the quality of those who have wounds and complications of diabetes and peripheral arterial disease.

In its Buffalo chapter, medical professionals, caregivers, and patients gather together to learn more about medical treatments available and options to prevent amputations.

Click here for more information.