Sickle cell ulcers affect around 75% of all sickle cell sufferers and can prove extremely painful and debilitating for the patient. Management of sickle cell ulcers relies on the effective implementation of good wound care practices. However, even under optimal treatment conditions, sickle cell ulcers can prove extremely intractable and may persist for several months…
Venous insufficiency is a common condition which results in edema due to elevated pressure within the capillary beds, as well as distention of the capillary beds. Venous insufficiency is often improved in the morning when the patient has been laying down all night, and worsens when the patient is up and the affected limb(s) are…
Scientists from the George Mason University in Virginia have developed a new peptide that can heal infected wounds in laboratory mice. The scientists are hopeful that the new compound will eventually be used as an antibiotic to treat wounds caused by antibiotic resistant organisms (AROs) in humans. The inspiration for the new drug comes from…
Anatomy of the Skin A good understanding of skin anatomy is necessary to be able to evaluate wound depth and the extent of damage to the tissues, as well as in the assessment of wound healing. How much do you remember (or how much have you forgotten!) about the anatomy of the skin? The skin…
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…
Venous insufficiency leg ulcers are the most common type of leg ulcer, accounting for 70% to 90% of all ulcers. Of the remaining ulcers, an estimated 10% to 15% are due to combined venous and arterial insufficiency. Women are three times more likely than men to have a venous- insufficiency ulcer. The risk of ulceration…
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…
The four main types of debridement are: autolytic, enzymatic, mechanical and surgical. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages. Let’s take a look at each method individually: Autolytic debridement This form of debridement uses the body’s own processes (enzymes and moisture) to break down tough eschar and slough. It does not damage healthy skin, but breaks…
When assessing a wound for the first time, it’s important to look at extenuating factors that may have contributed to formation of the wound, as well as factors that may influence healing of the wound. In addition to looking at lifestyle, past and current medical and wound history, diagnostics such as lab tests, functional status…
In the previous article “Anatomy of the Skin” we discussed an overview of the skin and the epidermis. In this article we will focus on the dermis, subcutaneous tissue and deeper layers. The Dermis Although the dermis has fewer layers that are much less well defined, it is equally important. The dermis is quite elastic…
