Wound Care

What is wound care?

Podiatric wound care focuses on leg ulcers, a specific type of wound that typically develops on the feet and lower legs.

Ulcers are open wounds where the skin deteriorates, revealing the underlying muscle and, in severe cases, bone. They can develop if the skin suffers damage or there's severe tissue degeneration that thins and weakens your skin.

Ulcers usually affect people with underlying health conditions that limit circulation, particularly diabetes and vascular diseases like chronic venous insufficiency. Long-term immobilization that decreases blood flow can also result in ulcers developing.

Chronic wounds like leg ulcers are a common issue for people with diabetes, as they have two risk factors: impaired circulation and diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Peripheral neuropathy is nerve damage resulting from diabetes that can cause numbness in your feet and ankles, so you don't feel the injuries that encourage ulcers to develop.

What symptoms do ulcers cause?

A developing ulcer is likely to be painful and sore, with redness and thickening tissues. You may see clear fluid or pus coming from the wound and notice an unpleasant smell.

Wounds like these are resistant to healing and can stay open for months. That leaves them vulnerable to infection, which may spread through the flesh and into the bone. Severely infected wounds can lead to gangrene and tissue death that ultimately requires amputation of the limb.

Therefore, it's vital to visit Eastside Foot & Ankle Clinic, P.C., as soon as you develop an ulcer to ensure you receive expert wound care.

What does wound care involve?

The first stage of wound care involves removing all the dead and diseased tissue, a process known as debridement. After stripping the wound back to healthy tissue, Dr. Berlin applies therapeutic preparations or pads that encourage healing. 

Keeping the wound clean is crucial to prevent infection and help new tissues to grow. Healing can be a slow process, so you're likely to require ongoing wound care under Dr. Berlin's supervision.

Increasing blood flow to your legs and feet is also important, so Dr. Berlin might work with a vascular surgeon who can treat diseased veins to improve your circulation. Physical therapy to help you stay mobile can also be beneficial as part of your wound care program.

If you develop a sore that won't heal, visit Eastside Foot & Ankle Clinic, P.C., to begin wound care treatment before your condition worsens. Call the nearest office or book an appointment online today.