Wound Care
Wound care at the Foot and Ankle Institute of New England office may involve several different treatments, depending on the type and severity of your foot or ankle wound. For minor wounds, the focus may be on cleansing and protecting the area to prevent infection. More serious wounds may require more aggressive treatment, such as debridement (removal of dead or damaged tissue), antibiotics, and/or surgery. In all cases, the goal of wound care is to promote healing and minimize the risk of complications.
Types of Wounds We Treat
The board-certified surgeons at the Foot & Ankle Institute of New England are specially trained in the treatment of a wide range of foot and ankle wounds, including:
- Diabetic ulcers – open skin sores, usually on the bottom of the feet, that occur due to the complications of diabetes.
- Pressure ulcers – commonly called bedsores, these injuries are common on the heels and ankles.
- Venous stasis ulcers – wounds on the leg or ankle due to poor draining of blood through the veins of your leg. Pooling of blood in the legs veins causes you to develop these ulcers.
If you have a wound that is not healing properly, or if you are at risk for developing a wound, our foot and ankle doctors can provide the type of specialty care necessary to promote healing and prevent further complications.
Available Wound Care Treatment
At the Foot & Ankle Institute of New England, we have experience in managing your wounds, including those that require multiple treatment approaches.
Debridement
Debridement is one common type of wound care treatment. It’s the process of removing dead or damaged tissue from a wound, and can be done through a number of different methods, including:
- Mechanical debridement – using a special instrument to remove the dead tissue.
- Chemical debridement – using a topical solution to dissolve the dead tissue.
- Autolytic debridement – allowing the body's own enzymes to break down the dead tissue.
Infection Control
Infection control is another common and crucial type of wound care treatment. If your wound is infected, the doctors at the Foot & Ankle Institute of New England will work to clear the infection and prevent it from spreading. This may involve a course of antibiotics, either taken orally or applied directly to the wound.
Wound Dressings
Wound dressings are another important part of wound care. Wound dressings help to keep the wound clean and protected from further irritation. Our qualified doctors will choose the best type of dressing for your wound based on a number of factors, including the size and location of the wound, the level of drainage, and your own personal preferences.
Orthobiologics
In some cases, wound dressings may include orthobiologics, which harness the body’s natural healing mechanism to supercharge healing in a target area. This includes methods such as stem cell and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy.
Foot & Ankle Wound Care in RI, MA
Are you diabetic or otherwise susceptible to foot ulcers? For the highest quality of wound care available in the region, contact the board-certified surgeons at the Foot & Ankle Institute of New England for the expert care and treatment you need.
Call the Foot & Ankle Institute of New England office nearest you: in Warwick, Rhode Island, Middletown, Rhode Island, or Dartmouth, Massachusetts.
