A chronic wound is an injury type that develops when an acute wound fails to heal in the expected time. It might be a couple of weeks or six weeks in a few cases. The conditions that stop or slow the healing process that may lead to similar illnesses are infection, weak immune system, poor blood supply & low oxygen, etc. Its most common signs & symptoms are fever, redness, pain, swelling, hotness, decrease in hair growth, and many more. In addition, it’s diagnosed by blood tests, a wound culture, and an x-ray.
Below are the three most common types of chronic wounds:
- Infectious Wounds: Whenever infection causes delays in the healing process, the injury becomes chronic. As per the Wound Care Centers, the significant signs of this Most Common Chronic Wound are pus drainage, inflammation, redness, pains, bad odours, and dead tissue.
- Surgical Wounds: Surgical openings or cuts are prone to complications, especially post-surgery wound care fails to prevent germs from reaching the affected area or promote healing. A few common signs of this injury type may include throbbing, unpleasant odour, streaking around the surgical site, and pus.
- Ulcers: Ulcers are one of the most common types of chronic wounds such as Arterial, Venous, Diabetic, Pressure, Traumatic, and others. The first one occurs from hypertension, thrombosis, and atherosclerosis. The second one leads to stasis where the blood fails to circulate. While the diabetic ulcer gives rise to ulceration and breakage of skin. In addition, the pressure ulcer results in bedsores, particularly on the back, ankle, and feet.
The treatment for the Most Common Chronic Wound depends on the area of your body infected and how severe it is. And, Antibiotics are given to the patients in order to prevent the health condition, but under the supervision of a doctor. Besides, Debridement, Cleansing, Dressings, and NPWT or Negative Pressure Wound Therapy are also some effective treatment options a physician choose whilst treating individuals with a chronic wound. In addition, the TIME principles of wound preparation is also plays an imperative role:
- Tissue: It’s an assessment as well as debridement of foreign & nonviable material on the surface of the injury.
- Inflammation/Infection: In this, healthcare providers check etiology of each wound in order to control infection.
- Moisture Imbalance: It includes management of the wound.
- Edge of Wound: It’s basically the assessment of undermined or non-advancing wound edges.
Some wound is possible to treat by yourself, but most of the time it is necessary to have a consultation with the doctors or staff nurse to have debridement and to use advanced dressing.