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Wound Care

Arlington/Mansfield Foot & Ankle Centers

Podiatrists, Foot & Ankle Surgeons located in Arlington, TX & Mansfield, TX

When you develop a foot wound, it must be carefully monitored to ensure it heals. Foot wounds that are slow to heal require professional wound care to prevent serious complications. The doctors at Arlington/Mansfield Foot & Ankle Centers specialize in advanced wound care that promotes healing and helps restore your ability to enjoy activities without pain. At the first sign of a slow-healing or worsening foot wound, schedule an appointment online or call one of the two offices in Arlington or Mansfield, Texas.

Wound Care Q & A

Why do I need specialized wound care for my foot?

When you develop a cut, blister, or wound on your foot, you expect it to heal like every other injury you’ve ever suffered. Unfortunately, healing doesn’t always happen in a timely manner when the problem affects your foot.

Foot wounds often take longer to heal. This problem can affect otherwise healthy patients. Shoes that are too tight or loose may aggravate the wound. Additionally, your feet sustain incredible pressure from your body weight, which interferes with healing.

Wounds are especially dangerous if you have a health problem that affects your blood vessels. Without adequate blood flow, wounds can’t heal, and the problem worsens. You can develop a simple blister and in a short time, the skin can deteriorate, and your blister turns into a bleeding ulcer that won’t heal.

For all these reasons, a foot wound often requires specialized wound care from the team at Arlington/Mansfield Foot & Ankle Centers.

What types of foot wounds commonly need specialized care?

There are three primary types of wounds treated by the podiatrists at Arlington/Mansfield Foot & Ankle Centers:

  • Diabetic wounds and foot ulcers
  • Venous and arterial wounds
  • Surgical and traumatic wounds

Wounds from all three sources often heal too slowly. Non-healing foot wounds can easily develop an infection that may invade your bones and the surrounding tissues. These wounds often limit your ability to walk and participate in activities you enjoy.

Foot ulcers that don’t heal also increase your risk for amputation. Diabetic foot ulcers are especially dangerous. Studies show that 60% of all lower-limb amputations occur in patients with diabetes. Additionally, in 85% of diabetic amputations, the problem began as a foot ulcer.

What treatments are used during wound care?

Wound care often requires an interdisciplinary approach. Since the doctors at Arlington/Mansfield Foot & Ankle Centers are the first providers to examine a foot wound, they determine the underlying cause, then coordinate your care with specialists such as an endocrinologist or a vascular surgeon.

Wound care begins by cleaning or debriding the wound to remove dead and infected tissues. In severe cases, your doctor may recommend surgery to thoroughly clean your wound.

Foot wounds require special dressings because wounds heal best when they’re kept moist. Your doctor may use an alginate dressing for wounds that bleed or ooze, a hydrogel dressing that supplies moisture to non-draining wounds, or a collagen dressing that supports healing.

Many patients also need off-loading to relieve pressure on the wound. Your doctor may prescribe orthotics or use a brace or casting to prevent pressure on the area.

When you have a foot wound that doesn’t heal, or you’re diabetic and sustain a small cut or blister, schedule an appointment online or call the office.