Types of Wounds

Our experienced wound healing team works together to create treatment plans tailored for your specific type of wound.

A wound is an opening in the skin that does not heal with regular medical treatment. Many things can cause wounds. If left untreated or unhealed, wounds can turn into more serious conditions, which may require amputation or cause a life-threatening infection.A patient with a wound that has not begun to heal within two weeks or is not completely healed in four weeks, should seek care immediately. Some of these include:

Diabetic Ulcers: A diabetic ulcer is a wound that occurs on the feet, heel or toes of people with diabetes. Many times, there is little to no feeling in the feet or to the ulcer itself. A pulse is present and the skin is normal or warm to the touch. The skin on the legs and feet may be dry and flaky.

Diabetes is a disease where the body does not make enough insulin. The body needs Insulin to break down sugar. Too much sugar will stay in your blood stream and can harm your body.

Venous Leg Ulcers: Venous leg ulcers can happen between the ankle and the calf. They happen due to long-lasting disease in the veins and can be hard to heal. People with venous leg ulcers are at risk for getting infection and these wounds can keep you from moving around. Some of these wounds get started by trauma, like bumping your leg. When you have damaged veins, this can keep the wound from healing. Venous insufficiency is caused by veins in the legs that do not work right. This means that fluid can build up in your lower legs. It makes your legs swell. It can stretch the skin like an oversized balloon. The skin can break open and a wound can form. Your skin color can darken. Your skin may feel different.

Peripheral Arterial Ulcers: An Arterial Ulcer is a round-shaped wound caused by impaired circulation and often seen on the legs or feet. You may experience pain to the legs after exercising or at night when your legs are elevated. Your feet may seem cold or cool to the touch. The skin on your legs may be shiny and dry, without hair present. Your nails may be thick. Your legs may be pale on elevation and ruddy or dusky in color when down. The ulcer will be round in shape with even margins or edges. There may be an absence or decrease of the pulses in your legs.

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a narrowing or blockage of the blood vessels in the legs. Blood flow to your feet and legs is decreased. This decreased blood flow affects the health of your skin on your feet and legs. It can also be the reason an ulcer does not heal. People with PAD have an increased risk for heart attack and stroke. An estimated 8 million people in the U.S. have PAD.

Pressure Ulcers: Pressure ulcers are an area of localized damage to the skin and underlying tissue caused by unrelieved pressure. When pressure is applied to the skin over a bony prominence, the pressure is transmitted in a narrowing cone down to the muscle layer and ischemia occurs, which leads to muscle necrosis. The greatest damage is usually deep within the tissue next to the bone, thereby making the outward appearance of a pressure ulcer deceptive. Certain pressure ulcers can also be caused by the action of shear forces acting in concert with pressure on fragile skin.

Malignant/Atypical Wound: Many cancers (Malignant) can cause a skin ulcer. These ulcers are called cancerous ulcers. Some chronic wounds can turn into cancerous ulcers. These include burns, radiation and venous wounds.

Additional types of wounds treated:

  • Abscess
  • Burns
  • Ischemic ulcers
  • Neuropathic ulcers
  • Spider/bug bites
  • Surgical
  • Trauma
  • Vasculitis
  • Other chronic, nonhealing wounds

To learn more about treatment plans or to schedule an appointment, please contact us at (818) 502-2233.