Circulation isn’t just about your heart pumping blood throughout the body. It is about nutrients and oxygen being carried by your blood, to all the tissues of your body, in order to allow these tissues to live and function properly. Disruption of circulation to the brain is a “stroke.” If you lose adequate circulation to your own heart, it can lead to a heart attack. Without proper circulation to your eyes, you can have temporary or even permanent blindness. So, what happens if you lose proper circulation to your feet? Continue reading 'Your Feet After Fifty: Poor Circulation'»
If you have an ulcer anywhere on your foot or ankle, you should never mutter that ever popular Monty Python phrase “it’s just a flesh wound” and ignore it! An ulcer is a serious wound involving the complete loss of the top layer of skin and possible extension into the deeper layers and tissues. These are especially dangerous in the diabetic population. If you, or someone you know, has diabetes, then you must be aware of the signs to look for involving ulcers, and you should see a podiatrist routinely. Diabetic foot ulcerations are the most common single precursor to lower extremity amputations.
Now, you may be wondering why diabetics are more susceptible to lower extremity problems. The answer is fairly complex, but here is a general overview: Diabetics may have a series of pathologies in the nerves, blood vessels, muscles, and skin. Problems in the nerves result in impaired protective sensation, making it possible to sustain an injury to the foot without feeling it. The damaged nerves also can result in weakened muscles because without adequate innervation, muscles can’t function properly. This can manifest as hammer toes, bunions and instability while standing or walking. Conditions involving blood vessels can result in many medical problems, including but not limited to insufficient oxygen and nutrient delivery to tissues and possible blockages. This can lead to pain, ulceration and ultimately gangrene of the foot. Lastly, diabetics experience changes in their skin. The skin becomes dry and is more prone to cracking and callus formation, which can lead to increased susceptibility to infections. Toe nails become thickened and brittle, and many times are infected with fungus. Thickened nails coupled with high pressure forces being applied to the nails can lead to nail bed ulcerations.
This picture seems pretty grim, doesn’t it? Well, there is extremely good news: diabetic foot problems are very preventable! Serious consequences, such as amputations usually start out as preventable, easy to treat problems. If you have diabetes, the key is to see a podiatrist on a regular basis for routine inspections of your feet. Studies by the US National Institute of Health show that comprehensive foot care programs can reduce amputation rates by 45-85%. Your local podiatrist can perform proper nail care, reduce callus build-up, and make sure your skin is sufficiently hydrated. Furthermore, he or she can educate you on your specific needs, as every patient experiences different challenges in caring for their feet. Good foot health is just a doctor’s appointment away!
Ulcers and other types of wounds are some of the most common problems that podiatrists deal with in the lower extremity. Part of the reason for that is because there are so many possible causes including diabetic ulcers, pressure ulcers, and blood-flow related ulcers as well as burns, traumatic wounds, and skin grafts or flaps. One unique treatment option that can be used in all of these settings is known as “negative pressure” or “wound vacuum” therapy.
In short, wound vacuum therapy is an active but non-invasive form of therapy which uses controlled pressure over a wound to promote healing. This principle was actually first developed in 1841 when vacuum bells were applied to different body parts with the idea of drawing blood away from diseased organs! Later in the 1950’s, newer designs were developed and studies were carried out examining healing potential and how the body responded to changes in pressure. The most popular device today received FDA approval in 1995 and was approved by Medicare in 2000.
There are several popular wound vacuum models in use today and a great deal of quality research has been done supporting their efficacy. The studies have shown that vacuum devices help by creating an ideal healing environment within the wound. They do this by offering protection and support as well as increasing local blood flow, removing excess fluid, decreasing bacteria, and promoting the formation of healthy tissue over the wound. Additionally, wound vacuum devices are shown to improve the success rates of skin grafts and flaps when they are necessary. Of course, vacuum therapy is not indicated in all wounds, and not every patient is a candidate.
As already noted, there are several different wound vacuum models in use today. Many of the models include a foam dressing with a suction device which is specially applied over the wound. The dressing is then attached by a length of tubing and connectors to the actual battery-powered suction device. This device is usually small and lightweight and can travel easily with patients. It can be programmed to offer the proper amount of negative pressure in order to optimally heal the wound or wounds in question.
Wound vacuum therapy is just one of many options available for the management of ulcers and other types of wounds. Your podiatrist in Chandler can tell you if this is an appropriate therapy for your condition and then help to manage that therapy effectively. Some wounds require constant suction while others require intermittent suction, and this can all be pre-programmed into the device. Vacuum therapy has proven to be an exceptional cost-saving measure in that it can help augment surgery, reduce the number of dressing changes, speed the transition to less invasive health care settings, and provide a treatment option to patients who are not ready for surgery. If you have questions, feel free to make an appointment today!
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