Complex Wound Management
MARCH IS COMPLEX WOUND MANAGEMENT MONTH For this month's WoundSource Practice Accelerator series, we are providing education on a variety of topics related to the management of chronic complex wounds. Scroll below to read this month's white paper and articles, to print out our quick fact sheet, and to sign up for this month's webinar.
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Upcoming Webinar
The Wound Healing Continuum — From Chronic to Acute
Matthew Regulski, DPM, FFPM RCPS(Glasgow), ABMSP, FASPMLower extremity wounds, such as diabetic foot ulcers and venous ulcers, are more prone to issues of chronicity and recurrence as a result of factors such as peripheral arterial disease, diabetes, and increased infection rates. Wound care clinicians are familiar with the standard of care in wound management including good wound bed preparation and moisture management, but sometimes, especially in complex lower extremity wounds, these strategies are not enough to achieve wound closure. When best practices are not enough, advanced therapies should be considered to resolve factors impairing wound healing. Advanced therapies can include negative pressure wound therapy, cellular and/or tissue-based products (CTPs), or antimicrobial dressings. Recent studies have demonstrated the benefits of utilizing CTPs as an adjunctive therapy in managing lower extremity wounds to support wound closure. Participants in this session will be able to:
- Describe the long-term effects of chronicity in lower extremity wounds, including amputation and increased mortality
- Understand the properties of CTPs and their effectiveness rates in supporting healing of lower extremity wounds
- Describe the process in which the application of good wound bed preparation followed by application of advanced therapies can return a wound to acute status and eventually lead to closure
White Paper
Therapeutic Interventions for Complex, Chronic Wounds
This useful guide to the treatment of complex, chronic wounds first discusses risk factors that predispose patients to the development of these wounds, as well as comorbidities and other conditions that complicate healing. The guide then describes the latest evidence-based advanced interventions for the treatment of complex, chronic wounds....Fact Sheet
Quick Facts - Complex Wound Management 2021
Medicare estimates that more than 8 million Americans have chronic or complex wounds, which diminish quality of life, raise mortality risk, and incur a heavy financial burden. With the aging of the global population, non-healing wounds are increasingly common worldwide and are prone to recurrence. Indeed, lower extremity wound recurrence is so prevalent that wound closure may be considered remission rather than true healing. Treatment of complex wounds may include specialized dressings, negative...Featured Articles
Chronicity in Lower Extremity Wounds
Chronic wounds of the lower extremities impose an increasing burden on health care providers and systems, and they can have a devastating impact on patients and their families. These wounds include diabetic ulcers, venous ulcers, arterial ulcers, and pressure injuries. The estimated socioeconomic co...
Read MoreAdvanced Wound Care Interventions for Non-Healing Wounds
Chronic and non-healing wounds are those that do not progress through the healing process in a timely or predicted manner. They are a global problem and are becoming harder to treat. Medicare estimates that over 8 million Americans have chronic wounds that cost the national health care system betwee...
Read MorePreventing Recurrent Lower Extremity Wounds
Chronic and complex wounds of the lower extremity frequently recur. It is difficult to determine the precise recurrence rate across patients with different lower extremity wound types, including diabetic foot ulcers, arterial ulcers, pressure injuries, and venous ulcers. However, we know that recurr...
Read MoreHow Growth Factors Support Wound Healing
Growth factors and cytokines are secreted by the cells and are essential to the complex wound healing and tissue regeneration process. This process involves the interplay of growth factors with chemokines, cytokines, and other signaling molecules. Although there have been numerous advances that have...
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Important Terms to Know
