Wound Care in Edina and Burnsville, MN
Open Wound and Ulcer Treatment
Wound Care Q&A
What is wound care?
Wound care refers to the specialized treatment of ulcers. These open wounds can develop anywhere but most often affect the feet and lower legs. Ulcers can become deep sores that extend down to the bone. They usually resist healing, requiring specific, highly skilled care.
The Pinnacle Foot & Ankle Clinics team excels in treating these challenging wounds. The team uses cutting-edge treatments that prevent infection and encourage healing. With their expertise in wound care, you can avoid severe complications like gangrene, where ulcers become infected, and the tissue dies.
Gangrene can spread through the limb and often results in amputation. With the Pinnacle Foot & Ankle Clinics team’s expert wound care, you can avoid the devastating consequences of gangrene.
What ulcers might need wound care?
Common kinds of ulcers affecting the lower limbs include:
Venous stasis ulcers
Venous stasis ulcers develop when tissues near the leg or foot veins weaken and break down. Chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), which also leads to varicose veins, is the most likely cause.
Arterial ulcers
Arterial ulcers develop when you have peripheral arterial disease (PAD). PAD affects the arteries transporting blood from your heart to your legs and feet. Narrowed arteries from excess cholesterol limit blood supply, so the legs don’t get enough oxygen.
Diabetic foot ulcers
High blood sugar levels common in people with diabetes damage blood vessels and nerves in your feet and legs. Poor blood circulation reduces healing, while nerve damage (diabetic peripheral neuropathy) can cause numbness.
If you have numb feet, you might not realize when you suffer a foot injury. The untreated wound can develop into a diabetic ulcer. Most of the wounds the Pinnacle Foot & Ankle Clinics team sees are diabetic ulcers.
What wound care might I need?
The wound care you need depends on how severe your ulcers are. The first stage usually involves cleaning and debridement (removing dead or infected tissue). When the wound is clean, your doctor applies a specialized dressing.
Depending on the wound type, you might benefit from hydrogel to keep a nondraining wound moist, alginate if the wound is bleeding or oozing, or collagen to support healing. Diabetic shoes or custom orthotics (medical shoe inserts) keep the pressure off your wounds. Skin grafts might be needed for severe wounds.
If you have diabetic ulcers, the Pinnacle Foot & Ankle Clinics team works with your diabetes specialist to provide the best management of your condition. The team also coordinates care with vascular surgeons (blood circulation experts) if you need a procedure like endovenous ablation for CVI or peripheral angioplasty for PAD.
