Ulcers
An ulcer is an open wound of the skin. Ulcers are a serious condition as the skin is the bodies way of protecting internal tissues from bacteria, pressrue, and other external agents. Ulcers can be superficial only affecting the top most layer of skin (aka erosions) or can be deeper affecting muscle, tendons, and bone. When an opening of the skin is present this makes it much easier to have bacteria present to grow to such an extent that an infection may occur.
Causes of ulcerations are most commonly seen in naturopathic patients such as those with diabetes or in patients with swollen legs (venous stasis). Ulcers can also be caused from pressure (decubitus ulcers), and lack of adequate blood flow (PVD).
Signs of un ulceration is a open wound that may include: redness, odor, swelling, drainage, or thick calloused tissue. Signs of an infected wound may include: nausea, vomiting, fever, chills, increased redness, odor, and puss. Often times ulcers may be underneath thick calloused tissues so that the patient is unaware the size or the extent of the ulceration. This is why routine foot examinations for those that have known at risk factors should be performed at least twice daily.
Ulcerations should be treated. This treatment is performed by someone that is licensed in wound care such as a foot and ankle doctor. The benefit of seeing a foot and ankle surgeon for an ulceration of the lower extremity is that: causes of ulceration can be assessed, biomechanical faults addressed, protective and preventative factors applied, resources obtained, and if necessary surgery performed. Surgery performed by someone qualified who is already familiar with your wound (and the treatments that have and have not been affective), usually reduces the time needed to have further care provided and prevents redundancy.
In moderate to severe wounds a team approach is often beneficial in wound care and often includes: family practitioners and internists, vascular surgeons, infectious disease doctors, plastic surgeons, hyperbarics personal, home health nurses etc.
Causes of ulcerations are most commonly seen in naturopathic patients such as those with diabetes or in patients with swollen legs (venous stasis). Ulcers can also be caused from pressure (decubitus ulcers), and lack of adequate blood flow (PVD).
Signs of un ulceration is a open wound that may include: redness, odor, swelling, drainage, or thick calloused tissue. Signs of an infected wound may include: nausea, vomiting, fever, chills, increased redness, odor, and puss. Often times ulcers may be underneath thick calloused tissues so that the patient is unaware the size or the extent of the ulceration. This is why routine foot examinations for those that have known at risk factors should be performed at least twice daily.
Ulcerations should be treated. This treatment is performed by someone that is licensed in wound care such as a foot and ankle doctor. The benefit of seeing a foot and ankle surgeon for an ulceration of the lower extremity is that: causes of ulceration can be assessed, biomechanical faults addressed, protective and preventative factors applied, resources obtained, and if necessary surgery performed. Surgery performed by someone qualified who is already familiar with your wound (and the treatments that have and have not been affective), usually reduces the time needed to have further care provided and prevents redundancy.
In moderate to severe wounds a team approach is often beneficial in wound care and often includes: family practitioners and internists, vascular surgeons, infectious disease doctors, plastic surgeons, hyperbarics personal, home health nurses etc.