Although the body has an astounding capacity to repair itself following a burn, cut, or other injury, proper wound care is needed to ensure healing and avoid infection.
At Herrera Reconstructive Surgery, we provide advanced care for complex wounds to get you healed and back to doing the things you love. Wounds that take longer than a month to heal may require specialized care. These wounds are considered chronic, and can be caused by:
- Burn injuries
- Diabetes
- Lack of mobility
- Poor circulation
- Physical trauma
- Underlying illnesses such as lymphedema and heart failure.
Continue reading to learn all about wound care, including why it’s so important and how to determine when advanced wound care is needed.
What Is Wound Care?
Wound care involves monitoring for signs of infection, cleaning the wound, and making sure that it is healing properly.
Why Is Wound Care Important?
Wound care is vital to promote proper healing and avoid infection, tissue necrosis, and other complications. Especially since, after sustaining a burn, cut, or other wound, the skin isn’t able to function as it normally would.
Wound care compensates for this deficiency and limits the chance of a localized or systemic infection. A systemic infection is extremely serious and, if left untreated, can potentially result in death.
When Is Advanced Wound Care Needed?
Many wounds heal on their own and do not require advanced care.
That being said, some wounds call for more intensive care, including:
- Wounds that are particularly large
- Wounds that present in immunocompromised individuals
- Wounds that present in individuals who have chronic conditions, such as diabetes, which make them more susceptible to poor healing
What Type of Wound Care is Right for Me?
The specifics of the wound and your medical history help determine the type of wound care that is best-suited to your needs.
For some injuries, cleaning and monitoring provide sufficient wound care and ensure proper healing.
However, chronic wounds are at greater risk for developing necrotic tissue and requiring debridement.
What Is Wound Debridement?
Wound debridement is a procedure that uses a scalpel and forceps to remove necrotic tissue from a wound. This is done to expose underlying healthy tissue to oxygen and facilitate healing.
Learn More About Wound Care
If you would like additional information about wound care, please call our office today to schedule a comprehensive consultation with one of our highly skilled and talented specialists.
Non-healing wounds affect more than 6.5 million Americans a year. If you are dealing with a chronic wound, you are not alone. Call us, we can help.