War Against Wounds

Treating hard-to-heal wounds with advanced technology at Memorial.

For most of us, wounds heal on their own, given time and the body's own efforts. But some people struggle with wounds that won't heal. And these wounds can pose a serious risk.

"Often our patients have dealt with a wound for an extended amount of time without any signs or hope of healing. We offer advanced wound care modalities and evidence-based medicine that often provide better results," explains Chanda Fulgium, program director for Wound Care at Memorial, a part of Hopkins County Memorial Hospital.

Wounds that have not started to heal in two weeks or healed completely after six weeks warrant special attention. These wounds can be anything from pressure ulcers to traumatic injuries to infections to serious burns. But by far the most common are diabetic ulcers. About 18 million people in the United States have diabetes, and 15 percent of them will develop a chronic wound.

At Wound Care at Memorial, focused technology, advanced dressing techniques and specially trained doctors combine to help get difficult wounds to heal. Treatment options include:

• wound dressings
• debridement
• compression therapy
• prescription growth factors
• bioengineered skin grafts
• swelling management
• blood vessel assessment

For 80 percent of patients, these treatments will lead to healing, usually in four weeks to three months. There's a different treatment option the other 20 percent can try- hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT).

"With HBOT, the patient is taken down to 2 ATA (approximately 33 feet below sea level) in a pressurized 100 percent oxygen-rich environment. The patient's blood becomes saturated with the pure oxygen intake, which enhances the body's natural healing capabilities," Fulgium explains.
She says the treatment has a 90 percent success rate, even with problem cases where loss of limb is possible. HBOT is approved by Medicare to treat 15 different conditions.

"Our goal is to get people healed and back to their earlier quality of life. Some people have had these wounds for years, and these methods are proven effective," says Fulgium. "With nutritional assessment and diabetes education we can get people back on the road to health and happiness."

By Stephanie Thurrott

Wound Care at Memorial can work with your primary care physician to provide quality care. You can also refer yourself for treatment. For more information about treating stubborn wounds at Memorial Hospital, call (903) 438-4670.