Wound Care

Advanced Treatments for Chronic, Non-Healing Wounds

A normal wound should show some signs of healing after a week. Many patients diagnosed with diabetes and circulatory conditions have a difficult time getting their wounds to heal. Even if you do not have one of these conditions, if your wound has become infected your body may not be able to recover properly. If you have a wound that is over 30 days old and has not made any improvement, it is time to seek medical attention.

Our wound treatment centers offer access to advanced wound treatments including hyperbaric oxygen therapy, and a dedicated team of wound care experts. Our multidisciplinary team of specialists includes physicians, podiatrists, vascular surgeons, infectious disease specialists, plastic surgeons and specially trained nurses. We work closely with patients to create customized treatment plans.

Treating a Non-Healing Wound

In most cases of non-healing wounds, supplying the affected area with more oxygen will help jumpstart the healing process. In other cases, harvested human skin cells may be applied directly to the wound to help stimulate skin regeneration and cover the wound. This is also known as a human skin equivalent treatment.

What Is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy?

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is an advanced wound care treatment in which patients are placed in a large, pressurized tube and exposed to high air pressure that allows the lungs and body tissues to absorb more oxygen. This excess oxygen can more quickly transfer to the blood and travel to where it is needed most.

It is a proven medical treatment that enhances the body’s natural healing while strengthening the immune system. HBOT is a course of treatment used for various conditions and illnesses, including diabetic ulcers and other non-healing wounds.

While patients recline comfortably inside a chamber, pure oxygen is administered at an atmospheric pressure two to three times higher than normal pressure. As the patient breathes normally, pressure forces pure oxygen into the bloodstream. This process increases the oxygen delivery to all tissues, improves the ability of the white blood cells to kill bacteria and helps boost the body’s own natural healing process. Physician supervision is provided during all treatments, to ensure the highest quality of care. Our experienced wound care specialists customize the most effective treatment plan to stimulate healing, returning patients to their lives as quickly as possible.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is commonly used in the medical field and considered medically necessary for treating a wide range of conditions. These can range from urgent problems like carbon monoxide poisoning, gas gangrene, diabetic wounds with a bone infection, radiation damage, crush injuries, compromised graft/flap, acute arterial insufficiency, necrotizing fasciitis, central retinal artery occlusion, osteoradionecrosis and sudden sensorineural hearing loss.

Wound Types We Treat

Certain kinds of wounds can take a long time to heal and require specialized care. If your wound has not responded to conventional therapy, our wound care specialists can help.

• Arterial ulcers
• Burns (varies by location)
• Brown recluse spider bites (mid-west and southern regions)
• Compromised skin flaps and grafts
• Crush injuries
• Diabetic ulcers
• Infected wounds
• Ischemic ulcers
• Metabolic wounds
• Necrotizing infections
• Pressure ulcers
• Radiation injury
• Surgical dehiscence
• Vascular wounds
• Venous ulcers

What to Expect

The course of treatment depends on what type of wound you have. During your first visit, our staff of physicians and nurses will evaluate your wound and review your medical history. You may also need special tests that give us information about circulation to the wound. This will then help to determine what course of treatment you will need.

Treatments may include:

• Tests of circulation
• X-rays
• Antibiotic therapy
• Pressure relieving devices
• Special dressings
• Hyperbaric oxygen therapy
• Lab work
• Nutritional counseling
• Education on wound prevention

What to Expect During Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

HBOT treatments normally last about 2 hours. A staff member will tell you how many treatments you will need. During your treatment, you may watch television, a movie or take a nap.

You will be given cotton clothing to wear in the chamber. No cosmetics, perfumes, hair preparations, deodorants, wigs, jewelry or electronic devices are allowed in the chamber (most pacemakers are allowed in the chamber). The hyperbaric technologist will need to know if you are taking any medications, including non-prescription drugs. You are advised not to drink alcohol or carbonated beverages for four hours prior to treatment.

Smoking and the use of tobacco products interferes with the body’s ability to transport oxygen. Therefore, your doctor will work with you on techniques to help stop smoking during the treatment period.

Frequently Asked Questions

What stops a wound from bleeding?

Blood plays an important role in your body’s ability to heal. The oxygen and nutrients in blood are essential to the wound healing process, as oxygen produces energy that stimulates the body’s internal functions. Patients with high blood pressure, diabetes, or other conditions that affect blood flow often suffer from non-healing wounds.

Check your wound regularly for signs of infection or lack of oxygen.

What are the signs of a non-healing wound?

Symptoms of a non-healing wound include:

• Pus leaking from the wound
• Blue or dark discoloration around the wound
• Redness and/or swelling around the wound
• An unusual odor coming from the wound
• The pain has not decreased
• The wound is unusually warm or feels hot when touched

If you notice any of the above symptoms, you should have your wound examined by a doctor as soon as possible. Infected wounds need to be treated before they have a chance to cause more damage to the rest of your body.

What is a chronic wound?

A chronic wound is a wound that fails to respond to treatment after 4 weeks or has not healed entirely in 2 months. Often complicated by underlying conditions such as diabetes, circulation problems or previous cancer treatment, the simplest of wounds can turn into a significant problem because the body’s normal healing process is affected. Other types of chronic wounds result from pressure ulcers, trauma or infection. Chronic, non-healing wounds can have serious health consequences and may adversely affect your quality of life.