Conditions That Require Wound Care
At Catholic Health, our team of board certified specialists in wound care allows us to practice the best course of treatment for a variety of wounds and skin conditions. From surgical wounds and long-term effects of treatment, to a diagnosed medical condition, we provide care for:
Diabetic Foot Ulcers
Diabetic foot ulcers are unfortunately common side effects reported by patients living with diabetes. The term ulcer is used in a clinical setting to refer to non-healing wounds, like open sores, cuts, and scrapes. These types of skin damage are known to form in a patient’s lower extremities, including buttocks, legs, and anterior shins, as all are vulnerable to repeat injuries. Diabetes can disrupt adequate blood flow to these areas, which is especially important to the health and healing of open wounds.
In short, poor circulation in diabetes patients means that a simple blister or tiny cut may develop into a larger problem. It’s important to take charge of your diabetes to properly manage your condition.
Bedsores
Bedsores, known in clinical terms as pressure or decubitus ulcers, are damage to the skin and its tissues from prolonged pressure on a certain area. They are most commonly found on “bony” areas of the skin, such as heels, ankles, hips, and tailbone. Bedsores earned their name from being a common side effect in patients who are bed-ridden for medical reasons. Not seeking proper treatment when you recognize a bedsore can cause it to progress to a more serious stage of development. In the most severe cases, it turns into an open wound, with bones, joints, or tissues exposed.
Patients who are considered at-risk for developing bedsores either live with a condition that limits their ability to change positions, or lead a sedentary lifestyle, whether it be for medical reasons or not.
Bone Infection
How are our bones able to get infected? Osteomyelitis, or a bone infection, is a fairly rare condition, but it poses a serious problem for patients when it occurs. Viable treatment options and symptoms will vary depending on the infection’s severity and progression. This can range from two weeks to a few months for symptoms to present themselves after the initial infection. Bone infection is a common complication of diabetic foot ulcers and infections.
The standard treatment response for bone infection would be tissue debridement and prescription of antibiotics. However, hyperbaric oxygen therapy is now used as a successful means of both improvement and intervention for patients with osteomyelitis, caused by both diabetic and tissue infection.