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8 ARCHBOLD
MEDICAL CENTER
SOMETIMES A WOUND
can lin-
ger for months, causing pain and making
life miserable. Treating these chronic
wounds requires special care.
How they happen
“The most common chronic wounds
are venous ulcers, pressure sores and
diabetic ulcers,” says general surgeon
Greg Patterson, MD, medical director of
Archbold’s Wound Care and Hyperbaric
Center.
Venous ulcers.
These are caused
when veins in the legs are unable to
push blood back toward the heart.
“The blood pools, which causes swell-
ing, inflammation and sores. It’s the most
common type of lower body ulcer,”
Dr. Patterson says.
People at highest risk include older
adults, women and people who are
overweight. Prevention includes wearing
compression stockings to keep blood
moving through veins in the legs.
Pressure sores.
When someone
stays in one position too long, the
CHRONIC WOUNDS
What todo
when
woundswon’t heal?
ongoing pressure hampers blood flow—
especially at bony spots like the tailbone,
hips or heels. And that can trigger sores.
“Bedridden people and people who
use a wheelchair are among those most
likely to get these ulcers, which used to
be called bedsores,” Dr. Patterson says.
Prevention includes keeping skin clean
and dry and changing positions often.
Diabetic ulcers.
These develop as
a result of nerve damage, a common
consequence of diabetes. A loss of
feeling means even minor injuries go
unnoticed, allowing infection to set in.
“Prevention includes tight control of
blood sugar, daily foot checks, frequent
visits to the doctor, and wearing proper
shoes and socks,” Dr. Patterson says.
Healing options
Treatment of a wound will depend
on its type and severity. In general,
though, wounds should be kept clean
and covered; blood flow, maintained;
and infections, treated with antibiotics
and dressings.
“In some stubborn cases, certain
people with chronic wounds may
need hyperbaric oxygen therapy,” says
Dr. Patterson. “It involves breathing pure
oxygen while in a sealed, pressurized
chamber. This can help wounds heal. In
other cases, surgery may be needed to
get rid of dead tissue.”
The chamber is pressurized but com-
fortable. The sensation felt by the patient
has been described as similar to having
one’s ears pop while flying on an airplane.
HBOT helps
heal wounds
The Archbold Center for Wound
Management and Hyperbaric
Medicine uses large, submarinelike
hyperbaric oxygen treatment (HBOT)
chambers like the one pictured at left
to treat patients with wounds that are
difficult to heal.
While enclosed in the chamber,
a patient breathes 100 percent oxygen
at an atmospheric pressure that is
two times greater than normal. The
extra oxygen goes into the blood-
stream and helps speed healing,
decrease swelling and inflammation,
and increase the body’s ability to fight
infection.
Susan Morris, RN, BSN, stands by
the hyperbaric chamber, o ering
support and expertise.
GregPatterson, MD
General Surgery
South Georgia Surgical Associates