Wound Care
Getting proper care for hard-to-heal wounds is important for your overall health and in preventing limb loss. At Foot & Ankle Specialists of Ohio, in Mentor, Chardon, Westlake, Lakewood and Garfield Heights, Ohio, the experienced physicians work closely with Lake Health Wound Care Center in Willoughby, Ohio, to address complex issues, such as diabetes-related wounds, Charcot foot syndrome, and skin ulcers. To find out more about available treatments for foot wounds, book an appointment online or over the phone.
Wound Care Q & A
What causes hard-to-heal wounds?
There are a variety of health conditions that can cause hard-to-heal wounds. Diabetes is the most common one. Other conditions include trauma and vascular disorders. You can also develop hard-to-heal wounds if you’re confined to bed for long periods of time.
What wound care services are available?
Together with Lake Health Wound Care Center, the team of physicians at Foot & Ankle Specialists of Ohio offer a wide range of services to treat hard-to-heal wounds. They provide services, including:
- Skin grafts
- Diabetic limb salvage
- Total contact casting
- Advanced tissue stem cell grafts
The staff also provides effective wound care using negative pressure hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
What is negative pressure hyperbaric oxygen therapy?
A hyperbaric chamber can make wounds heal faster. Within the chamber, the air pressure is two and a half times greater than the pressure in the regular atmosphere. This heightened pressure elevates the amount of oxygen in your blood, increasing the effectiveness of your body’s own healing ability.
Negative pressure hyperbaric oxygen therapy is effective in treating a variety of wounds, including diabetic ulcers and soft-tissue damage. For patient convenience, the Lake Health Wound Care Center offers two hyperbaric chambers for oxygen therapy.
What is Charcot foot?
Charcot foot is a condition that results from neuropathy, or nerve damage. When you have significant damage to your nerves, it can cause a weakening of the bones in your foot, which can lead to fractures and foot deformation.
This condition is serious and can cause disability. If left untreated, you may eventually need an amputation of the affected foot.
Nonsurgical treatments for Charcot foot can include immobilization and the use of foot braces and special shoe inserts. You may also need to limit your activities for a period of time to allow your foot to heal.
If deformities in your foot are already affecting your mobility and causing you pain, your physician at Foot & Ankle Specialists of Ohio may recommend surgery to save your foot and restore its functionality.
To learn more about the wound care services offered at Foot & Ankle Specialists of Ohio, book an appointment online or over the phone today.