Wound Care Specialist

What Kinds Of Injuries Require Wound Care?

The most common causes of open wounds that require immediate attention include falls, accidents while using sharp objects or tools, and car accidents. Dr. Coletta works with you when these injuries fail to heal without medical intervention.

Additionally, Dr. Coletta also offers wound care for other types of skin breaks that don’t heal on their own, including:

Pressure Sores

Also called bed sores, pressure sores are sections of your skin that break down due to continually rubbing or pressing against something. The constant friction reduces blood flow to the area, and without enough blood, your skin dies and sores form.

Radiation Sores

As a result of cancer radiation treatment, the skin in the treated area changes, often turning red, peeling, and itching. While these symptoms usually go away after you complete your chemotherapy, sometimes your skin stays darker, drier, and more sensitive to the sun.

Foot Ulcers

Foot sores or ulcers are prevalent if you have diabetes, reduced blood flow, or swollen legs. This type of injury also occurs when you place too much pressure on one part of your foot. While usually painless, these wounds take weeks or months to heal.

How Are Underlying Issues With Your Wound Diagnosed?

Dr. Coletta takes several steps during your exam for wound care, including:

• Measuring your laceration
• Checking the blood flow around the affected area
• Figuring out why you’re not healing
• Creating a treatment plan

Dr. Coletta then discusses your options with you and determines the best course of action.

How Are Wounds Treated?

Depending on the type of injury you have and its severity, Dr. Coletta takes several different approaches to wound care, including debridement. Debridement is the process Dr. Coletta uses to remove dead skin and tissue from your wound to help it heal.

Other wound care treatments Dr. Coletta offers include:

• Compression stockings: tight-fitting socks used to improve blood flow and help with healing
• Ultrasound: sound waves aid healing
• Artificial skin: covers your wound as it heals
• Negative pressure therapy: a vacuum is used to pull air out of a closed dressing; this negative pressure helps improve blood flow and remove any excess fluid
• Growth factor therapy: materials produced by your body get used to help wound-healing cells grow

To avoid getting an infection in your slow-healing injury, call Dr. Coletta’s office or use online booking to schedule an appointment for wound care today.