Expert: Diabetics aren’t the only ones who should be concerned about wounds

At Maricopa Foot and Ankle, we specialize in wound care.

Diabetic patients are at a high risk for wound care. However, anyone can get a wound and need assistance with closure.

Neuropathy is a term used to describe numbness and nerve damage to any nerve in the body. Over time, the nerve breaks down and patients experience numbness, tingling, burning and pain in their feet. The numbness creates a situation in which patients don’t realize trauma and damage have occurred.

Trauma can be caused just by walking and standing too long, and it creates pressure points on the feet. These pressure points then cause an open wound, and infection can occur.

Lack of blood flow to the feet can be very dangerous. Just like one can get heart disease or have a stroke with diabetes, one can also get lack of healing due to decreased blood flow to the feet. Without proper blood flow to the feet, healing is very difficult. A vascular specialist is usually consulted to help with the healing process.

Often the skin of a diabetic can become fragile, callused or thinned. A callus with numbness can be very dangerous. A diabetic with neuropathy can’t feel the damage done by the callus. Once this occurs, a wound opens and becomes prone to infection and possible future amputation.

Bunions, hammertoes, flat feet, high arches and areas that can cause pressure areas are all types of deformities on the foot. Combined with neuropathy, lack of blood flow and high blood sugars, a person is at high risk for a wound. If the wound gets infected, sometimes hospitalization with IV antibiotics is needed or worse, amputation to the area that became infected.

At Maricopa Foot and Ankle, we are Wound Care specialists for all types of wounds on the feet and legs. If one suspects they are susceptible to a wound, please see a specialist quickly to avoid serious problems.

 

This sponsored content was first published in the September edition of InMaricopa magazine.