Non-healing wounds are particularly prevalent among the estimated 29.1 million Americans affected by diabetes. Of those diagnosed, approximately 15 to 25 percent are at risk for developing foot ulcers. Chronic, non-healing wounds require specialized wound care because of their underlying causes and their failure to proceed through an orderly and timely set of healing stages.
Although there are numerous types of non-healing wounds, the following are the four most prevalent – each with different appearances, symptoms and causes:
- Infectious wounds
- Vascular wounds
- Radiation related wounds
- Surgical wounds
Infectious
Your skin protects the inside of your body from germs that cannot be seen. These bacteria can cause infection if you have a break in the skin. You can also get an infection in your bone, a condition known as osteomyelitis. A wound or bone infection can be hard to treat. It may require admission to the hospital, and it can even lead to an amputation or death. Therefore, it is important to know the signs and symptoms of an infection. It is also important for you to do everything you can to prevent an infection. Be on the lookout for:
- Warm or red skin
- Fever or chills
- Increased swelling around the wound
- Dead tissue
- Increased weakness
- A wound that won’t heal
It’s also important that you do everything possible to avoid infections. This includes good hygiene and protective clothing where appropriate.
Vascular
These types of wounds are a result of arterial or venous insufficiency. Venous insufficiency occurs when valves within the veins begin to malfunction and result in blood pooling within the feet and legs. Venous hypertension, which is a result of chronic venous insufficiency, can lead to the painful, swollen “varicose” veins that predispose tissue to injury and poor healing. Some of the signs of non-healing ulcers are:
- Redness and swelling that won’t go away
- Pain and edema
- Skin with minimal to no hair
- Inflammation
- Hotness
- Blistering and general discoloration
Arterial ulcers typically occur as a result of decreased oxygen supply to the legs and feet. This occurs as a result of poor circulation, and is commonly seen in such diseases as atherosclerosis diabetes, sickle cell disease and vasculitis. The lack of oxygenated blood can result in tissue damage and hypoxia which may lead to ulcer formation.
“Radiation exposure can injure small blood vessels in the skin and other organs” -D. Scott Covington, M.D., FACS, chief medical officer for Healogics
Radiation Related Wound
Half of the more than 11 million people diagnosed with cancer in the U.S. receive radiation therapy as part of their treatment plan. After beating cancer, many patients who undergo radiation therapy discover a hidden complication that may not come to light until years after they’ve concluded treatment. “Radiation exposure can injure small blood vessels in the skin and other organs. As a result, blood flow may be diminished to the area in question and non-healing wounds may arise” explains D. Scott Covington, MD, FACS, chief medical officer for Healogics. Some symptoms of radiation injury are: blood in the urine, redness or alterations in pigmentation of the skin.
Surgical
Wounds caused by surgical incisions are not always chronic, however a surgical incision combined with a lack of blood supply to the area, whether from arterial insufficiency or a surgical complication, can progress to a chronic wound if left untreated. Additionally, if the surgical wound is infected it may appear red, hot and swollen.
The expertise of our specially trained wound care physicians allows Healogics Wound Care Centers® to treat a variety of chronic wounds. Healogics is the expert in wound healing. We drive wound science forward by developing successful wound healing treatment and prevention techniques. Wound Care Centers across the country work tirelessly to heal more wounds and change lives every day. If you or a loved one is experiencing a chronic non-healing wound, we would love for you to find the relief you deserve.
Visit Healogics to find a Wound Care Center near you!
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