Wound Care

Specializing in-

Wound Care Overview

The surgeons at University Surgeons Associates provide surgical expertise to patients with wounds that are difficult to heal.   It is estimated that eight million Americans suffer from such wounds.  Chronic wounds can be caused by a number of different medical conditions.  Any wound that does not heal within a month under routine medical treatment is a difficult to heal wound that might benefit from the specialized care available through the University Wound Care & Hyperbarics Center.  A variety of diseases and reasons exist that prevent proper healing of a chronic wound.

Conditions Associated with Non-Healing Wounds

  • Diabetes
  • Arterial Disease
  • Venous Insufficiency
  • Pressure
  • Radiation Effects
  • Tobacco Use
  • Certain Medications
  • Trauma
  • Post-Surgical
  • Inflammation
  • Infection
  • Edema
  • Cancer
  • Age
  • Obesity
  • Poor Nutrition
  • Mixed Causes

A multidisciplinary approach involving the staff of the Center, the primary care physician and specialists increases the likelihood of successful wound healing and prevention of complications or recurrence. 

Objectives of Comprehensive Wound Care

  • Optimize Perfusion
  • Remove Dead Tissue
  • Treat Infection & Inflammation
  • Control Edema
  • Appropriate Dressing of the Wound
  • Protection of the Wound & Pressure Relief
  • Manage Wound Pain
  • Treat Systemic Illnesses & Nutrition
  • Advanced Therapies to Stimulate Tissue Growth

There are many types of wounds that are evaluated and treated in the University Wound Care & Hyperbarics Center.  These are referred by practitioners in many different areas of medicine and surgery.  There are usually several modalities of therapy that are appropriate and often used in combination in any one case.

 

Types of Wounds Benefitting From Comprehensive Wound Care

  • Diabetic Foot Ulcers
  • Lower Leg Ulcers
  • Pressure Ulcers
  • Bone Infections (osteomyelitis)
  • Ischemic Ulcers
  • Gangrene
  • Skin Tears or Lacerations
  • Radiation Burns
  • Burn Wounds
  • Frostbite
  • Post-operative Infected Wounds
  • Slow or Non-healing Surgical Wounds
  • Wounds from Brown Recluse Spider Bites
  • Failing or Compromised Skin/Muscle Grafts or Flaps
  • Wounds Over 30-days-old Failing Multiple Treatments/Therapies

These difficult to heal wounds frequently require weeks or months to completely heal and many of the modalities used in treatment are arduous and time consuming.  This means there must be a real commitment by the patient and their care givers to follow through with the recommendations and treatments as scheduled.  Partial or incomplete therapy almost always results in failure to heal.  The ultimate consequence of failure to heal is loss of limb or life.

Related Links and Resources

education
ADVOCACY GROUPS
WOUND CARE ORGANIZATIONS