Wound Care Louisville, KY | Foot, Ankle, Leg Ulcer Louisville, KY | Diabetic Ulcer Louisville, KY
Podiatrist Louisville, KY | Foot, Ankle, Leg Wound Care Doctors | Foot Wound Care Louisville, KY
What is a Foot Ulcer, Foot Wound?
A foot ulcer or foot wound is a lesion on the feet that keeps returning or does not entirely heal. Foot ulcers result from the breaking of skin that leaves the cells in your feet prone to infections and damage and may also cause burning and itching in the feet and ankles. A foot ulcer or foot wound can occur from any level of trauma, but can also occur from simply scratching an itch, or constant pressure on a part of your feet resulting from improper shoes or barefoot walking. If you are a diabetic, have vascular problems, or other medical conditions - the risk is increased for potentially more complicated wounds that require treatment by our Podiatrists in Louisville, KY at New Horizons Foot and Ankle Associates.
Are you worried about a wound or ulcer on your foot, ankle or leg?
It is better to get it checked out by a foot, ankle, leg wound expert (Podiatrists in Louisville, KY) rather than wait until the condition worsens and becomes harder to treat. If left untreated for too long, the infection can spread into the bone (osteomyelitis), causing serious complications and in some cases, amputation.
Make an appointment today with our Podiatrists in Louisville, KY at New Horizons Foot and Ankle Associates for treatment of your foot ulcer, ankle ulcer, leg ulcer (foot wound, ankle wound, leg wound).
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Am I at more risk if I am a Diabetic or have Vascular issues?
Foot injuries are common, and for the most part, they can simply be signs that you need to adjust your walking or running habits, or your footwear. But if you suffer from diabetes or vascular problems these injuries can quickly become a serious concern. Learn more about how to properly care for your wounds by reaching out to your Podiatrists in Louisville, KY at New Horizons Foot and Ankle Associates. Our Podiatrists in Louisville, KY are highly skilled in the management of complex foot, ankle, and leg ulcers and wounds including complex diabetic limb salvage surgery, reconstructive foot and ankle surgery, laser medicine and surgery and more.
Foot Ulcer
These often start as small injuries but can become difficult-to-treat wounds and eventually foot ulcers. They can cause an infection that, without treatment, rapidly spreads and could in time result in amputation to stop it from affecting the rest of your body.
About one-quarter of people who are affected by diabetes develop wounds or foot ulcers.
Diabetes not only makes you more prone to foot conditions and disorders, but because the condition can also lead to nerve damage it can also be very difficult to even detect these injuries on your own due to loss of sensation on the bottom of your feet as a result of progressing diabetes.
What are the symptoms of foot ulcers and infections?
The main symptoms of foot infections or ulcers include:
- swelling
- skin dryness
- inflammation
- discoloration
- rash
As the situation deteriorates, the incidence of more severe symptoms increases. Severe symptoms may include callus formation, wound drainage, scar formation, pain and a strong odor.
What do foot ulcers look like?
You need to be able to spot a foot ulcer so that you can get the right diagnosis and treatment. While ulcers can be of any shape or form, foot ulcers usually have a wedge shape or crater-like appearance.
Foot ulcers also can vary in color; they may be yellow, pink, gray, red, or black. However, a black ulcer signifies that the cells in that area are dead (necrosis).
Foot ulcers: who is at risk?
Anyone can be at risk of developing a foot, ankle or leg wound or foot, ankle, leg ulcer. However, a few of the medical conditions that increase the risk of foot ulcers are:
- circulatory diseases (peripheral vascular disease)
- obesity
- renal diseases
- high blood glucose levels and poor glycemic control (diabetes)
- use of tobacco and alcohol consumption
- foot deformities like hammertoe or bunions
Diabetes and Peripheral Vascular Disease are two of the leading causes of foot, ankle, and leg ulcers. Diabetes-related sores are the most common because diabetes causes poor circulation to the feet, increasing foot complications — including chronic wounds and nerve damage. Untreated and mismanaged diabetic foot ulcers can lead to significant problems including amputations. Make an appointment today with our Podiatrists in Louisville, KY at New Horizons Foot and Ankle Associates for treatment of your foot ulcer, ankle ulcer, leg ulcer (foot wound, ankle wound, leg wound).
What causes foot ulcers
You can develop foot, toe, ankle, or leg ulceration for various reasons. A few foot ulcer risk factors include:
- medical conditions like diabetes
- trauma to the foot
- peripheral arterial disease
- deformities of the toes or toenails (such as bunions)
- exertion of too much pressure on one part of the foot or toe
- bacterial infections like cellulitis
- fungal infections
Make an appointment today with our Podiatrists in Louisville, KY at New Horizons Foot and Ankle Associates for treatment of your foot ulcer, ankle ulcer, leg ulcer (foot wound, ankle wound, leg wound).
Types of Wounds
- Pressure wounds are some of the most common types of injuries that can lead to diabetic foot ulcers. They are often caused by pressure and friction, typically as a result of improperly fitting footwear.
- Traumatic wounds are usually caused by sudden trauma or injury.
- Venous stasis ulcers can develop because normal vein function has been affected, either by abnormal or damaged veins. The condition can be hereditary and influenced by age, weight, and other factors.
- Non-healing post-op wounds are those that can occur when a surgical incision does not heal as expected, and it's often caused by infection.
Wound Care Louisville, KY
Caring for wounds begins at home with daily examinations of your feet, which can be done with mirrors and with the help of a loved one or caretaker. Look out for blisters and scrapes and care for them, but any sign of infection should quickly be brought to the attention of your Podiatrist in Louisville, KY at New Horizons Foot and Ankle Associates. Our Podiatrists in Louisville, KY can provide you with information and treatment options for your foot wound, ankle wound, leg wound including diabetic ulcers and diabetic wounds, as well as venous ulcers and arterial ulcers of the leg.
What are some of the treatment options available for Wound Care in Louisville, KY at New Horizons Foot and Ankle Associates?
- Serial debridement to remove any non-viable, devitalized, poor tissue that is impeding wound healing
- Compressive therapies to use pressure to encourage wound healing
- Negative Wound Pressure Therapy
- Wound biologics and grafting to promote internal structure healing by strengthening and reinforcing the framework of the wound bed for optimal wound healing outcomes
- Offloading the affected site with modifications in a shoe, boot, or device that helps prevent recurring pressures that can negatively impact wound healing.
- Surgical debridement in the operating room
- Surgical complex wound closure in the operating room
- Surgical reconstruction to remove offending margins, bones, or other pressures delaying healing and more...
Your doctor will clean the wound, remove any dead tissue, and apply a clean bandage. They will also treat any present infection, possibly with medication, if necessary, and tell you what you can do to help your wounds heal as soon as possible.
