If you are looking for expert treatment for a lower extremity wound, make an appointment with the wound care specialists at Orthopedic Foot & Ankle Center. We serve patients in multiple locations throughout Greater Columbus.
Visiting an orthopedic surgeon doesn’t mean that surgery is necessary. Our orthopedic doctors always prefer to use non-surgical procedures to treat injuries.
“I arrived with sore toes and with little understanding of the cause for the soreness, Thanks to her patience and clear explanation, I left with an understanding of the cause of the pain, the treatment needed, guidelines for improving care of my toes, and medication for the healing process. This was a very helpful and educational visit.” — Tynan W.
Acute and chronic wounds of the lower extremity will usually have a severe impact on your quality of life. You may experience symptoms that can range anywhere from mild to debilitating.
You are not alone if you are experiencing these types of wounds. It is estimated that around 13% of Americans are affected by lower extremity wounds.
Wound care begins by identifying the underlying cause. Lower extremity wounds, such as leg and foot sores, can be caused by one or a combination of problems. Your physician will check for poor circulation, infection, diabetes and other medical problems.
Wound management includes cleaning the area to prevent infection and providing the right environment for healing. Aftercare will also help prevent the wound from reoccurring.
Your wound specialist will provide treatment in order to achieve the following treatment goals:
Diabetics have around a 30% chance of the wound returning. That is why prevention of the wound from reoccurring is so important.
Our wound care specialists will always aim to avoid amputation where possible. Most of our clients have experienced the successful treatment of their wounds.
Our wound care specialists work along with experts in the following fields:
Our wound care specialists can provide effective treatments for the following types of wounds:
When diagnosing lower extremity ulcers, it’s important to check for underlying conditions such as peripheral arterial disease, venous insufficiency, nerve damage, and infection.
We offer the following treatments at Orthopedic Foot & Ankle Center:
Skin debridement is a treatment used to thoroughly clean a wound. A physician can do this either through surgery or using special dressings or gels. The physician will remove thickened or callused skin, infected or dead tissue, and any foreign material.
A skin biopsy can be used to diagnose skin lesions. The procedure involves removing a small sample of skin for testing. The skin sample is examined under a microscope to check for skin cancer, skin infections, or a variety of skin conditions.
Abscess drainage is a procedure used to drain an abscess of pus in order to start the healing process. An incision is made to start the initial drainage. Further drainage may be accomplished using packing material.
Treatments for wound infections include wound cleansing, debridement, and the use of antibiotic or antimicrobial dressings.
PMMA (Polymethylmethacrylate) antibiotic beads can be used to deliver a high dose concentration of local antibiotics to a wound.
Edema treatments can include wearing compression garments or raising the affected leg higher than the heart.
An NPWT device (more commonly known as a wound VAC) works by applying negative pressure evenly across a wound bed. A drain is attached to this device to facilitate the removal of excess fluids. The device creates ideal conditions for the wound to heal.
Growth factor therapy is a procedure that uses growth factors to promote wound healing. Growth factors are naturally found substances in the body whose function is to stimulate the growth and proliferation of the cells involved in wound healing and inflammation. These can be applied topically to a wound to speed up the healing process.
Bioengineered skin can be grown from your own cells or other biological sources. One type of bioengineered skin is made from the cells of neonatal foreskin. This artificial tissue contains an outer epidermal layer and/or a dermal layer that is embedded into a support structure called an acellular matrix.
An amniotic tissue graft is another kind of skin substitute often used in the treatment of chronic wounds. It is obtained from the amniotic membrane of a donated placenta.
If you are looking for expert treatment for a lower extremity wound, contact us today to make an appointment with our specialists at Orthopedic Foot & Ankle Center. We have many convenient locations throughout the Columbus, OH area. Our highly skilled doctors are ready to provide you with the quality care and peace of mind you deserve!
Medically Reviewed by Dr. Justin R. Hudson
