In healthy people, wounds that cleaned promptly and treated correctly heal without too much problem. However, if the injury gets infected or someone with an underlying health condition such as diabetes has a wound, it’s crucial to get professional intervention from foot and ankle specialist Christopher O. Cook, DPM, FACFA, at San Juan Foot and Ankle Center, Montrose and Delta, Colorado. If you have diabetes and develop wounds or ulcers, or you have infected wounds or wounds that won’t heal, get expert care and treatment from San Juan Foot and Ankle Center by calling or booking an appointment online today.
Just like any other part of your body, feet and legs can sustain injuries from blows, cuts, falls and other accidental damage. If your foot gets wounded, first aid to clean the injury helps avert the risk of infection, and keeping it clean with fresh bandages or plasters should help it to heal normally.
If you sustain a puncture wound, you may be at risk of developing tetanus, and due to the depth of a puncture and the small entry site, it’s more likely to get infected as it’s harder to clean effectively. Therefore if you do get a puncture wound, it’s advisable to get a tetanus shot and have the wound cleaned professionally.
Ulcers are wounds that expose the underlying tissues following skin damage and usually occur in people who have underlying health conditions that affect circulation or who are immobilized for long periods. Ulcers are often painful, and there may be fluid or pus draining from the wound, an unpleasant smell, and redness, inflammation, or thickening in the tissues.
Ulcers are one of the more common kinds of wounds found on the feet and are particularly likely to affect diabetics and patients with neuropathy or vascular disease, where circulation to feet is impaired. Pressure from badly fitting footwear can also lead to the formation of foot ulcers.
Ulcers need prompt, expert treatment to prevent the wound letting in infection, which could cause severe complications if it reaches the bones.
For an accidental injury that’s led to damaged skin and bleeding, simple first aid is usually sufficient to protect from infection and start the natural healing process. If a wound is deeper or has nicked a large blood vessel, you may need stitches, but this is usually a simple outpatient procedure.
If ulcers are the problem, San Juan Foot and Ankle surgeons have the knowledge and experience to provide the care you need and ensure the best possible outcome. Removing the unhealthy tissue is the first step, followed by wound care procedures to encourage the natural healing processes.
Your surgeon may recommend prescription shoes or padding to alleviate pressure on the wound, and if it’s infected, you’ll need a course of antibiotics. Sometimes ulcers may be exceptionally slow to heal, or they may be severely infected, in which case patients may need surgery or advanced wound care treatments.
To ensure your wounded feet heal as quickly as possible and to prevent infection, call San Juan Foot and Ankle Center to book an appointment with Dr. Cook or use the online booking facility today.
