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Health & Fitness

When to Worry About a Wound

Chronic wounds –those that don’t heal, or at least improve, in six to eight weeks—can be a great threat to the health of an individual. Examples of these wounds are those from a complicated surgery, diabetic foot wounds, or wounds on skin that continually breaks down, such as pressure ulcers. There are many conditions that can contribute to a chronic wound, including: compromised immunity, steroid usage, diabetes, vascular diseases, edema of the lower extremities, loss of bowel/bladder function, and poor nutrition. Common sites for chronic wounds are the feet, ankles, heels and calves, as well as hips, thighs and buttocks on those who cannot walk.

The greatest risk from chronic wounds is infection; bacterium that is commonly found around us can easily enter a wound, which can lead to serious conditions. You should be concerned about a wound when the surrounding tissue has increased redness and warmth, and/or there is increased pain, odor or drainage. If the wound presents with any of these symptoms, it is important to seek medical attention immediately, to be sure there is no infection, and to get treatment.

There are many wound care centers and specialists in the medical profession today, all of whom have expertise in caring for chronic wounds. A general practitioner is a good place to start, as he or she will be able to direct you to the appropriate discipline to best care for your wound. In a hospital or long-term care setting, staff members will be specially-trained to handle common wounds in the patient population. Treatment may include medication and dressings, nutrition management, diabetes education, physical therapy, skin or tissue grafting, hyperbaric oxygen therapy and/or transcutaneous oximetry.

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If you are enlisted to care for the chronic wound of a family member or yourself, remember these guidelines to ensure safe and sanitary treatment:

· Always wash your hands before and after caring for any wound.

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· Wear gloves whenever possible when caring for a chronic wound.

· Keep legs elevated if edema is present.

· Dressings should be clean and dry at all times.

· If the wound is the result of a pressure ulcer, work to offload the site from the pressure (i.e. if the wound is on a heel, elevate the foot so the heel is free from pressure).

· Be sure to report any noticeable changes to the doctor.

By Johanna Graham, RN, NCC, WCC

Johanna is a Nursing Care Coordinator at Gurwin Jewish Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Commack.  She is also specially trained as a Wound Care nurse. For more information about Gurwin’s family of services, visit www.gurwin.org

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