Everyone gets cuts and scrapes, but when it takes more than six weeks to heal, you may need to see a wound specialist. Bloomfield Vein & Vascular PLLC in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, has been helping patients in the metropolitan Detroit area get the relief they deserve. Book your appointment online or call today.
Many people suffer from leg or ankle wounds that, for a variety of reasons, take more than six weeks to heal. The most common type of stubborn wound, called venous skin ulcers, can last months or even years in most severe cases. The cause of the inability to heal in a reasonable amount of time is often complex, stemming from a perfect storm of medical issues.
Typically, a patient has a cut or break in the skin near or on the ankle. The patient may be suffering from poor blood circulation or weak or failing blood valves in the veins of the legs, which prevent them from moving blood back to the heart.
Instead, the blood flows backwards and pools, not only creating increased pressure in the affected leg but also making it difficult for the open wound to heal properly.
Not only are these venous skin ulcers uncomfortable, but also they are potentially dangerous. If left untreated, they can turn into a bacterial infection.
Although anyone can suffer from wounds that won’t heal, several risk factors may predispose patients to skin venous ulcers, including:
These conditions on their own won’t necessarily lead to venous skin ulcers. However, each condition contributes to the overall risk, increasing your likelihood of high blood pressure, as well as circulation and ulcer issues, all of which contribute to potential challenges with wound healing.
Since healing stubborn leg wounds is often complex, it’s important to find a reputable wound specialist. At Bloomfield Vein & Vascular PLLC in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, Diego Hernandez, MD, is a board-certified vascular surgeon and wound specialist. Dr. Hernandez creates customized treatment plans derived from thorough diagnostic procedures.
The root causes of lower extremity wounds can be both arterial and venous conditions. A comprehensive evaluation using advanced ultrasound and imaging technology allows your doctor to see inside your arteries and veins so that they can develop the proper treatment plan to heal your wound.
Wound dressings that manage drainage and promote healing and skin substitutes are also great tools for helping to manage and heal complex wounds.
If you are suffering from a wound that just won’t heal, contact Bloomfield Vein & Vascular PLLC in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, for a consultation. Book online or call today.
These two images demonstrate an active wound on a patient that had advanced venous insufficiency (CVI). After dealing with iliac vein compression, performing an ablation of the great saphenous vein and applying a skin substitute with modified compression wraps, we were able to heal this wound.
