Wound Care

What is wound care?

Wound care at Pulmonary Medicine Associates includes treatments that enhance wound healing and reduce the risk of complications. The practice uses conservative treatments or minor surgical solutions to maximize the healing of wounds on your feet and ankles, especially if you have diabetes. 

What are the common causes of foot wounds?

Wounds develop for numerous reasons, including stepping on a sharp object, wearing improper footwear, or dropping something heavy on your foot. You might have a non-healing wound after developing a blister or callus. 

Uncontrolled diabetes increases the risk of neuropathy, a type of nerve damage that causes numbness and increases your risk of foot wounds. When left untreated, these wounds can become infected or heal improperly with visible scarring.

How can I reduce the risk of foot wounds?

Ways to reduce the risk of foot wounds include checking your feet regularly for injuries if you have diabetes, washing your feet daily, wearing comfortable footwear, and eating nutritious foods. Seek medical treatment at the first sign of a non-healing or large wound.

Which wound care solutions are right for me?

The type of wound care that’s best for you depends on the type, size, and severity of your wound. A podiatrist reviews your medical history and symptoms, examines your feet and ankles, and may recommend a swab, biopsy, blood test, or imaging procedure to detect or rule out specific foot issues.

Which wound care treatments are available?

Wound care services at Pulmonary Medicine Associates include the following:

• Wound cleaning
• Debridement (removing dead or infected tissues)
• Oral medications to prevent infection
• Topical medications
• Stitches
• Staples
• Tissue grafting
• Offloading
• Orthotics
• Bandages
• Specialized dressings 
• Hyperbaric oxygen therapy

Your wound care specialist tailors each treatment to your needs and may recommend more than one wound care solution to ensure exceptional results, fast healing, and a low risk of complications. 

It’s also important to stop smoking, eat nutritious foods, and keep the treatment area clean. Take all medications exactly as directed by your provider, and properly control your blood sugar if you have diabetes. 

Check your feet regularly and call the Pulmonary Medicine Associates office at the first sign of a large or non-healing wound. 

To reap the benefits of outstanding wound care, schedule an appointment at Pulmonary Medicine Associates by phone or request one online today.