Pressure Ulcers are lesions caused by many factors such as unrelieved pressure; friction; humidity; shearing forces; temperature; age; continence and medication; to any part of the body, especially portions over bony or cartilaginous areas such as sacrum, elbows, knees, and ankles. Although often prevented and treatable if found early, they can be very difficult to…
Patients with COVID-19 may be especially susceptible to unavoidable pressure injuries because of the way the COVID-19 virus interferes with the human body’s normal processes. Background: What is Considered an Unavoidable Pressure Injury? The National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel (NPUAP) has defined an unavoidable pressure injury as one where the proper evaluation was completed and…
Almost all podiatrists have received basic wound care training. Contrarily, few podiatrists have achieved full wound care certification. Throughout their career, Podiatrists will see many patients affected by chronic wounds. Having the right wound care education will help podiatrists better diagnose and treat these wounds. Podiatrist wound care certification begins by building on the general wound…
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…
Pyoderma gangrenosum is a rare but serious ulcerating skin disease causing painful ulcers on the legs and other parts of the body. Diagnosis of the condition is difficult due to a lack of biomarkers or other distinguishing features, and treatment can also be challenging. No single specific therapy for pyoderma gangrenosum is available and few…
Can regenerative medicine fully heal wounds that are currently beyond repair? Regenerative medicine uses three methods to work with the body’s natural processes of wound healing – regeneration, replacement, and rejuvenation. Unfortunately, as many as one-third of chronic wounds do not respond to traditional treatment. When these methods do not work for non-healing or chronic wounds,…
Venous-insufficiency ulcers are usually located on the medial aspect of the lower leg or medial malleolus. It is also common to find venous ulcers in areas exposed to trauma, such as the anterior shin. Venous ulcerations do not occur on the plantar aspect of the foot and rarely occur above the knee. Venous-insufficiency ulcers are…
The National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel redefined the definition of pressure injuries during the NPUAP 2016 Staging Consensus Conference. The updated staging definitions were presented at a meeting of over 400 professionals. Dr. Mikel Gray from the University of Virginia guided the Staging Task Force and conference participants to an agreement on the updated definitions…
Wound malignancy is a growing concern, particularly as the population ages and the ‘baby boomer’ generation reaches retirement. A malignant wound can result from tumor necrosis, fungating tumor cells, an ulcerating cancerous wound, or a malignant cutaneous wound;1 and rarely achieves satisfactory closure.2–3 Malignant wounds can have both ulcerative and fungating features and are often associated…
Lymphedema can be defined as swelling of one or more limbs which may also include a portion of the corresponding trunk. Lymphedema can also affect the breast, head, neck or genitalia. It occurs when fluid and other components such as protein accumulate in the tissue spaces as a result of a disparity between the creation…
