The Importance of a Formally Accredited Certification In Wound Care

The Importance of a Formally Accredited Certification In Wound Care

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As average life expectancy increases, conditions associated with wound management are becoming more prevalent in our society. The rise of diseases such as diabetes and peripheral arterial disease is leading to an increase in the number of chronic wound sufferers, resulting in a greater need for qualified individuals who can effectively treat these patients and…

Less Common Approaches Used To Treat Wound Infection

Less Common Approaches Used To Treat Wound Infection

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The typical treatment for infected wounds continues to include antimicrobial therapy, however other therapies are gaining in popularity due to the rise in antibiotic resistance. Maggots Maggot Debridement Therapy is the medical use of live maggots (fly larvae) for treating non-healing wounds. Maggot therapy has also been around for a long time, going all the…

How to Obtain Wound Care Certification in 4 Easy Steps

How to Obtain Wound Care Certification in 4 Easy Steps

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Wound care knowledge is fast becoming a requirement in many workplaces. With our population aging and the number of individuals living with diabetes climbing, most health care professionals encounter wounds on a routine basis. Becoming a certified wound care professional can assist you both in advancing your career and in your daily practice. Wondering how…

Pyoderma Gangrenosum

Pyoderma Gangrenosum

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Overview of Pyoderma Gangrenosum Pyoderma  is a noninfectious, progressive necrotizing skin condition. The etiology of pyoderma is unclear. Half of patients have a systemic inflammatory condition such as ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, irritable- bowel syndrome, lupus, or rheumatoid arthritis.  About a quarter of pyoderma cases begin after some sort of trauma or surgery. But another quarter…

Calciphylaxis – Introduction

Calciphylaxis – Introduction

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Calciphylaxis is a severe and complex syndrome involving vascular calcification, thrombosis, and skin necrosis. Although the condition is relatively rare, occurring almost exclusively in patients with advanced (Stage 5) chronic kidney disease (CKD), it can often be fatal. In fact, mortality rates higher than 50 percent are reported within one year of diagnosis, mostly due…

Skin Lesions Due To Malignant Melanoma
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Skin Lesions Due To Malignant Melanoma

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Malignant Melanoma Malignant melanoma is a rapidly progressing, metastatic form of cancer involving the melanocytes.  Early recognition of the tumor is essential because the patient’s chance of survival is increased with early treatment. Malignant melanomas differ in shape and size, and they can appear anywhere on the body. They present with irregular borders, uneven surfaces, and…

Diabetic Foot Ulcer Classification Systems
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Diabetic Foot Ulcer Classification Systems

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It is crucial to apply a standardized measurement system to evaluate whether a diabetic foot ulcer is responding to care, as a result several classification systems have been proposed. At the present time no specific system has been universally accepted.  Even so, most clinicians use one of the available systems when assessing and documenting a diabetic ulcer. In this article we…

How to Measure Wound Undermining

How to Measure Wound Undermining

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 Wound Undermining Wound undermining occurs when the tissue under the wound edges becomes eroded, resulting in a pocket beneath the skin at the wound’s edge. Undermining is measured by inserting a probe under the wound edge directed almost parallel to the wound surface until resistance is felt.  The amount of undermining is the distance from the…

Pressure Ulcer – Stage IV
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Pressure Ulcer – Stage IV

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Full-thickness skin and tissue loss with exposed or directly palpable fascia, muscle, tendon, ligament, cartilage or bone in the ulcer. Slough and/or eschar may be visible. Epibole (rolled edges), undermining and/or tunneling often occur. Depth varies by anatomical location. If slough or eschar obscures the extent of tissue loss this is an Unstageable Pressure Injury….