Wound Care

What is wound care?

At Volusia County Podiatry, wound care is the treatment of severe foot and ankle wounds. The feet and ankles are especially susceptible to healing difficulties when an injury or condition causes circulatory problems or nerve damage. 

Wound care addresses your specialized healing needs and helps you avoid the risk of progressive damage, tissue necrosis (death), and limb loss.

What types of wounds require wound care?

Any wound could potentially grow severe enough to require wound care. But, in general, wound care focuses on slow-healing and non-healing open wounds. 

The most common types of wounds treated include:

• Diabetic foot ulcers
• Pressure sores in the feet
• Venous stasis ulcers in the ankles
• Foot or ankle wounds related to trauma

Other types of foot problems can potentially require wound care if you have diabetes. For example, an ingrown toenail might develop into an open wound. 

How does the wound care process work?

Wound care can be a complex process. It's highly individual because every wound and situation is unique. Dr. Duffus offers the full spectrum of wound care services, so each appointment may be slightly different. 

In general, Dr. Duffus starts by cleaning your foot or ankle wound and inspecting it carefully to check for new signs of tissue infection or necrosis. If you have any dead tissue, Dr. Duffus may perform a debridement, a process in which she removes that tissue to allow your healthy tissue to heal. 

Dr. Duffus applies medications as needed, along with dressings to protect your wound. If you have an infection, or you're at risk for one, you may need topical or oral antibiotics. You may also need to wear a protective boot or other devices as you heal. 

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy can be an essential part of wound healing too. This treatment exposes your wound to 100% pure pressurized oxygen, which can significantly enhance healing and speed up the recovery process. 

Depending on how severe your wound is, you may need surgery as part of the wound healing process. Skin grafting can replace necrotic tissue with healthy skin. Grafts may or may not contain their own blood supply. 

During your recovery, Dr. Duffus may perform vascular testing, nerve conduction tests, or other types of evaluation to make sure you're healing in the best way. 

Untreated foot and ankle wounds can dramatically increase your risk of amputation and long-term disability. Take control of your healing by calling Volusia County Podiatry or schedule an appointment online today.