Wounds can be caused by many etiologies which include diabetic foot ulcers (DFU), pressure ulcers, infected surgical wounds, venous stasis ulcers, arterial ulcers, mixed arterial and venous ulcers, trauma to the skin resulting in a wound. All of the above represent common types of wounds that can be complicated by immunocompromised status, vascular status, and other systemic problems.

Having a wound that won’t heal is a major health concern for people. People with wounds can lose mobility, be unable to perform daily activities, and have emotional stress. A multidisciplinary team in our Wound Center provides expert advice and treatment for wounds.

Our physicians provide specialty care for wounds with immediate access to consulting experts such us vascular surgeons, infectious disease specialists, dietitians that specialize in wound care nutrition, and experienced surgeons also work with the doctors to provide the best treatment.

Treatments modalities include: debridement, compression wrap, unna boot, ace wrap, specialty dressings, biologic dressings (skin graft such as Apligraf, Oasis), referral to vascular or plastic surgery for surgical treatment.

After comprehensive evaluation a treatment plan is developed for the type of wound and the person’s needs. The Wound Center team looks at the whole person, and works with the person’s regular doctor to address associated medical problems that may be impeding wound healing.

Wound Healing

Wound healing is a time consuming work intensive process and can take up to 3-6 months to heal a wound so it’s important to be patient. There are individualized recommendations depending on your wound type and your medical comorbidities but there are some things you can do to help your wound heal faster and prevent setbacks.

• Follow your doctor’s recommendations.

• Keep your wound covered to protect it against dirt and bacteria.

• Follow home care safety tips.

• Change dressings as directed.

• Follow safety precautions when changing dressings.

• Keep pressure off the wound.

• Eat nutritious foods for healthy skin and better wound healing

• Watch for signs of infection

Signs of infection to elicit a phone call:

• Increased warmth or tenderness

• Fever

• Redness

• Swelling

• Green or yellow fluid

• Foul smelling drainage