Wound Care

What is the best form of wound care for foot injuries?

Injuries from cuts, blows, and punctures break the skin in different ways, causing traumatic wounds. If you sustain a wound on your foot, clean it thoroughly to flush out any bacteria, and apply a clean bandage or plasters.

If the wound is bleeding heavily, you should seek emergency treatment. You might need to get stitches for an open wound, and if you have a puncture wound, you need a tetanus shot.

Puncture wounds are harder to clean, and it’s easy for bacteria to get trapped inside the wound, where it can cause an abscess. It’s always wise to get a puncture wound or anything more serious than a scratch professionally cleaned and dressed.

What other types of wound care might I need?

The other main reason for needing wound care on your feet and ankles is if you have ulcers. Ulcers are an entirely different type of wound to injuries and require specialist care. Ulcers are open wounds that expose deeper layers of underlying tissues. They’re painful and cause symptoms such as:

• Redness
• Inflammation
• Thickening
• Fluid drainage
• Pus
• Unpleasant smell

Ulcers are particularly common on the feet and legs. They most often affect people who have conditions like diabetes, fluid retention in the legs, or other disorders that reduce circulation. They also develop in people who are bedridden for long periods. Wearing tight shoes that affect your circulation could cause an ulcer, especially if you also have diabetes.

Without prompt, expert treatment from the skilled podiatrists at The Foot and Ankle Specialists, ulcers could expose you to infection. This can lead to serious complications if the infection reaches the bones, and, sometimes, requires amputation of the foot. 

What is the best form of wound care for ulcers?

Ulcers tend not to heal as readily as other types of wounds. The first step is to take off any dead or unhealthy tissue. Your podiatrist can clean the wound and apply dressings to keep it clean. Ulcers need regular monitoring, and if there’s any risk of infection, you need to take antibiotics.

The team at The Foot and Ankle Specialists focuses on encouraging the natural healing processes as much as possible. This means optimizing your whole body’s health as well as applying aggressive, up-to-date therapies to ensure the fastest possible healing time. This can include optimizing blood flow, keeping off any pressure, and even stem cell grafts if needed. You might also need to wear diabetic shoes or special shoes or walking boots.

If you want to know more about wound care for foot and ankle injuries and problems like ulcers, call The Foot and Ankle Specialists today to schedule a consultation or book an appointment online.