Much of the management of wounds in children is based upon clinical research and practical experience gained in adults, and on wound care products developed with an older population in mind. Although the basic principles of wound care are consistent across adults and children, there are some important differences that should be considered when treating…
As wound management comes out of the shadows of other therapy areas and begins to find its true place at the heart of medical practice, so the reputation associated with a higher qualification in wound care rises. Increasing numbers of wound care specialists across all levels of qualification are pursuing further education in wound care…
The potential consequences of a diabetic foot ulcer, including significant morbidity and a high risk of amputation, are so distressing that every effort should be made to prevent the development of the condition. However, this is by no means always possible, and up to 50% of patients with diabetes will be affected by diabetic peripheral…
Diabetic foot problems, including ulcerations, infections, and gangrene, are the most common grounds for hospitalization among diabetic patients. In particular, foot ulceration affects between 15 and 25 percent of patients with diabetes mellitus during their lifetime. 1Diabetic foot ulcers are notoriously difficult to heal, and may take weeks or months to close, even if treated promptly…
Physical Therapists: Why Wound Certification is Right for You As a physical therapist, you may be wondering what wound certification has to do with you and your professional life. In fact, there are hundreds of physical therapists who have become specialists in wound management. Why? There are many reasons, such as: Physical therapists see many…
Nurses: Why Wound Certification is Right for You The career possibilities for practicing nurses have never been greater or more exciting. The potential to study and specialize in your own area of interest allows you to develop your skills in that area, improve your job satisfaction, and shape your own career. The continuing increase in…
A fistula is an abnormal opening between two epithelial surfaces,1-3 usually involving a communication tract from one body cavity or hollow organ to another body cavity or hollow organ. For example, a gastrointestinal fistula joints the lumen of the gastrointestinal tract to another organ, while an enterocutaneous fistula involves a communication between the lumen of the…
If wound healing is not successfully achieved using a conservative approach, through sterile dressings or topical antibiotics, for example, a surgical strategy is often the next course of action. However, a less invasive approach to wound healing, and one which is gathering support from both clinicians and researchers, is electrical stimulation.1–3 In this technique, one electrode…
Excessive scar formation results from an abnormal physiologic response to an injury deep in the dermis, including burn injury, laceration, abrasion, or surgery (Figure 1).1–3 Elevated fibrous scars that extend beyond the borders of the original wound and usually occur after excision are known as keloids, while hypertrophic scars are maintained within the initial site…
In our last article, we briefly looked at some of the techniques most commonly used in clinical practice to assess arterial insufficiency. This week, we turn our attention to venous insufficiency. Many of the techniques used are the same or similar but offer a different diagnosis and, importantly, mandate a different wound management approach. Ankle-Brachial…
