What is wound care?
Wound care is a branch of podiatry focused on diagnosing, treating, and preventing ulcers and slow-healing wounds.
Wound care is especially beneficial for people with diabetes and chronic venous insufficiency. Both of these issues negatively affect blood flow to your legs and feet, increasing your risk of complications.
What are some common problems that wound care treats?
The team at Sarasota Foot Care Center provides wound care for several issues, including:
Infected wounds
A wound is a cut, gash, or open sore. If harmful bacteria enter the wound, it can trigger inflammation and tissue damage. When left untreated, infections can spread to other parts of your body. They also increase your risk of more serious complications, including gangrene or the need for amputation.
Leg and foot ulcers
Leg and foot ulcers are wounds that fail to heal or keep returning. A variety of medical conditions increase your risk of leg and foot ulcers, including poor circulation, venous insufficiency, diabetes, kidney failure, high blood pressure, and lymphedema.
Plantar warts
Plantar warts are hard, flesh-colored bumps that usually develop on the weight-bearing areas of your feet. Plantar warts occur due to human papillomavirus (HPV). Small plantar warts usually resolve on their own.
However, if plantar warts cause you pain or they negatively affect your mobility, in-office treatment may be necessary.
What happens during a wound care appointment?
At Sarasota Foot Care Center, a wound care appointment begins with a review of your medical history, a discussion of your symptoms and lifestyle, and a comprehensive physical exam.
Your provider might also order laboratory tests, such as a glycated hemoglobin (A1C) test to check your blood sugar levels, onsite digital X-rays or ultrasound, nerve testing for neuropathy, artery and vein testing for peripheral artery disease (PAD), or a biopsy.
How does wound care treat slow-healing ulcers?
Wound care at Sarasota Foot Care Center depends on the underlying cause of your wound and its severity. Ultimately, the goal of treatment is to relieve pain, speed up recovery, and prevent other complications, such as amputation.
Wound care treatment options include:
- Antibiotics, if there’s an infection
- Topical wound care therapies
- Compression garments
- Prosthetics or orthotics
- Skin grafting
If your wound is due to diabetes, you might also benefit from diabetic wound care or the Medicare diabetic shoe program.
If you have diabetic neuropathy, you might benefit from VST electro-stimulation with the VST MyoDynamic® Device. For the treatment of warts, the team offers liquid nitrogen and salicylic acid removal.
Schedule a wound care appointment at Sarasota Foot Care Center today. Call or book a consultation online.
