Wound Care

What causes nonhealing wounds?

When you’re healthy, wounds follow a natural healing process that follows precise steps. At every step, wounds need oxygen, nutrients, and the support of other cells that activate healing, regulate inflammation, and regenerate new tissues.

All the substances your body needs to heal reach the wound through your bloodstream. When your blood supply is diminished, you’re at risk for a nonhealing wound.

Many health conditions can also impair wound healing, including:

• Uncontrolled diabetes
• Varicose veins
• Blood clots
• Infection
• Edema
• Nutritional deficiencies
• Chronic venous insufficiency
• Peripheral artery disease

Diabetes and vascular insufficiency lead to skin ulcers that continue to enlarge and often lead to infections. Radiation therapy for cancer may also lead to a slow-healing wound.

What symptoms indicate my wound isn’t healing?

These symptoms develop when your wound doesn’t heal properly:

• Foul odor
• Drainage from the wound
• Thick, yellowish discharge
• Ongoing swelling or redness
• Prolonged fever
• Pain that doesn’t improve or gets worse
• Redness spreading out from the wound
• Dark or blue color around the wound’s edges

How long it takes a wound to heal depends on the size and depth of the wound. If you don’t see significant signs of healing within a month, or if you develop any of the symptoms listed above, it’s time to see your doctor.

How do surgeons provide wound care?

Chronic wounds require intensive treatment that begins with a thorough assessment to evaluate the extent and severity of your wound. You may also need diagnostic testing to determine the underlying cause and to check for complications such as bone infections.

If you’re diagnosed with diabetes, vascular disease, or another health condition, you receive proper treatment for that problem to prevent future wounds from developing.

The specialists at South Florida Surgical Group provide comprehensive wound care, using today’s most advanced and painless techniques to stabilize wounds and promote long-lasting healing. They often provide treatment such as:

• Surgical debridement (remove dead tissue and infection)
• Surgery to restore circulation
• Skin graft or skin flap surgery
• Wound closure
• Extracellular matrix treatment
• Compression therapy
• Topical medication
• Antibiotics

The team also uses their expertise to properly dress nonhealing wounds. They may choose from a variety of innovative options, such as bioactive dressings that contain products designed to promote healing and bioengineered dermal replacements.

If you have a chronic or slow-healing wound, call South Florida Surgical Group or book an appointment online.