Treatments vary to promote healing

Our skin is the largest organ in our body, and any damage to it is an opportunity for germs to cause an infection. We’ve all had cuts and scrapes that can easily be taken care of at home, but what about the kind that need stitches or a hospital stay?

Nearly six million Americans suffer from chronic wounds. There are many reasons why a wound may not heal including infection, lack of adequate blood flow, pressure and/ or repeated injury to the wound, and medical conditions including diabetes mellitus, kidney disease, malnutrition and anemia. Post-surgical and chronic wounds can lead to serious complications if left untreated and can often cause a great amount of stress and frustration. At CHRISTUS patients undergo a thorough diagnostic examination to identify the type of wound and underlying problems causing the wound or delayed healing. A specific regimen is tailored to the patient’s needs based on the most effective treatment options. They would include: infectious disease consults, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, debridements, nutritional management, diabetic education, vascular evaluation, laboratory evaluation and radiology.

Once a treatment plan has been initiated, the patient would visit the center on a regular basis for wound care treatment. The physicians at CHRISTUS Wound Care and Hyperbaric Medicine Center are very committed to providing compassionate care with an exceptional level of quality. We provide our patients with faith-based care combined with the most upto-date modalities, and scientific advances have contributed to our level of care, patient satisfaction and success. Studies show that wound care treatment facilities have reduced amputation rates and length of hospital stays.

Diabetes and Wound Care

Those suffering from diabetes are no stranger to nerve damage, tingling sensation and sensitivity to touch. This can lead to many complications with wounds when it comes to proper healing.

One of the main challenges for diabetic patients is poor or delayed healing. Healing problems are caused by damage to the blood vessels and nerve that can occur with diabetes. A lack of blood flow in the extremities can result in a reduced supply of oxygen and nutrients to the body tissue and nerves, which is necessary for healing. Over time, nerves in these areas may become damaged, making patients vulnerable to injury.

Many diabetic patients suffer from a diabetic foot ulcer which is typically located on the bottom of the foot. Diabetes is the leading cause of non-traumatic lower extremity amputations in the United States. Patients are the most important part of the healing process. Compliance with appointments and following specific orders are most critical to attaining a positive healing outcome.

Oxygen and Wounds

Wounds need oxygen to heal properly, and at the CHRISTUS Wound Care Center, our hyperbaric chambers help patients every day. There are many benefits to hyperbaric medicine, a proven way to help accelerate the healing process that uses 100 percent oxygen in a monoplace (single) chamber for 90-120 minutes. While in the chamber, you may sleep or watch movies/television. Patients are treated inside a clear, sealed chamber, and a trained nurse or technician will continuously monitor you during the entire session.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a non invasive, painless use of pressurized oxygen to assist and promote healing. Side effects are rare. The combination of high pressure and pure oxygen increases the concentration of oxygen in the bloodstream, which permeates deep into body tissues to help promote healing. Some specific indications for the use of hyperbaric oxygen would include radiation cystitis, failing flaps or grafts, osteoradionecrosis and diabetic foot ulcers.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is used as a part of a comprehensive treatment for wound care.

To make an appointment or for more information on the services offered at CHRISTUS Wound Care and Hyperbaric Medicine Center, please call 318-681-7480 or visit www.christushealthsb.org.

Dr. Susan Kemp is the medical director for CHRISTUS Wound Care and Hyperbaric Medicine Center, the chief of staff for CHRISTUS Shreveport-Bossier Health System and an internal medicine physician at CHRISTUS Primary Care Associates.