Wound Care

Non-Healing Wound

Non-healing wound is a delay in the natural healing process from either an outside or inside source. Inside sources could be and infection, bleeding, drainage, clots, fatty necrosis, unexpected debris, tracks, and underlying health issues such as diabetes and  poor circulation. Outside sources could be pressure, friction, moisture, trauma, burn, radiation and insects (roaches or maggots).  All of these sources make each patient and circumstance unique and different and should be treated with individual care.

As a wound practitioner my responsibility is to find the delay or non- healing source quickly for every patient. Early detection will reduce pain, suffering and return patients to their lifestyle.

Our wound care clinic is unique because our staff is physical therapist and assistances that specialize in wound care and debridement. We have successful wound healing because of our outstanding experience, skill and consistent staff. Our small staff of professionals allows us to have better consistency and patient compliance. Most wound care facilities operate with large changing staff that causes inconsistent care and delayed healing.

Sherri Boos, DPT, PT

Yukon Wound Care & Rehab

Non-Healing Wound2019-01-15T16:56:35+00:00

Trauma Wounds

Trauma wound definition is an injury to the body resulting in open skin and / or other tissue. Trauma wound or injury is a universal phrase referring to damage produced by an accident, such as motor vehicle accident, fall, animal bite etc. (MedlinePlus, 2018). In America lots of people injure themselves yearly and those injuries vary from minor to deadly injuries. Trauma wounds happen at work, home, school, indoor, outdoor and basically anywhere at any time performing the most basic activities.

These injuries can be minor or very serious requiring specialized care to manage and heal them. If wounds are not properly cleaned and/or cared for they can become life-threatening. Our out-patient clinic can treat and manage all types and stages of trauma wounds and injuries.  Most trauma wounds or injuries should not be sutured or closed due to high rate of infection. These wounds should be cleaned and left opened and referred to wound care for follow up care. In some situations wound vacs are used to assist with closure and healing. Other common types of trauma or injury:

  • Animal bites
  • Bull or buffalo gored
  • Deep or hard bruising
  • Burns
  • Open dislocations
  • Electrical injuries

References

Wounds and Injuries – treatment: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia. (2018, August 14). Retrieved from https://medlineplus.gov/woundsandinjuries.htm

For more information about trauma wound care, contact Yukon Wound Care & Rehabilitation at 405-265-2255.

Trauma Wounds2022-01-12T14:36:49+00:00

Dehisced Surgical Wounds

Dehisced surgical wound is a separation of staples, sutures or glue from infection, blood clot, serous drainage and swelling. Dehisced surgical wounds can be caused by a bug or microorganism on the skin prior to surgery, in the body or organ, airborne, providers hands or surgical instruments (MedlinePlus, 2016). Patients that are more at risk for dehisced wounds: diabetics, immune suppressed, overweight, smokers, corticosteroid users and patients that have undergone surgery lasting more than 2 hours (MedlinePlus, 2016). Dehisced surgical wounds can be very serious and even life threating.

There are three stages of wound infection: superficial, deep and organ (Medline, 2016). Typically oral antibiotics are given for superficial wounds, but sometimes IV antibiotics are needed because of allergies. Sometimes a surgical procedure called incision and drainage or exploratory surgery is needed to clean and drain the wound (MedlinePlus, 2016). After the incision and drainage procedure the wound is left opened so it will heal from the inside out. During the healing time wound care will be needed and either you, family member or a health care provider will do daily wound dressings. Wound care usually consist of removing the packing, cleaning the wound and repacking followed by outer dressing. Sometimes serial debridement is needed to clean the wound for better healing. Occasionally a wound vac is used to speed up the healing process. The healing time is different for every patient so it could take days to months to completely heal. Yukon Wound Care and Rehab work closely with your physician to best meet your needs and speed up healing recovery.

 

Reference

Surgical wound infection – treatment: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia. (2016, August 22). Retrieved from https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/007645.htm

 

Dehisced Surgical Wounds2019-08-27T15:39:47+00:00

Spider Bites

Springtime in Oklahoma!

Time for Spring Cleaning and Yard Work!

Spiders hide in dark quiet areas of our home and lawns. If you are bitten by a spider medical attention could be necessary!

Contact us immediately if bite area becomes red, swollen, spreads or begins to blacken! We can help monitor, treat, and contact your Physician for possible antibiotics! 405-265-2255 (Pictures is a Brown Recluse) #woundcare #YWCR #springtime #spiders

Spider Bites2019-01-22T19:42:29+00:00

Pressure Ulcers

Pressure ulcers, also known as bed sores and decubitus ulcers, are the result of external prolonged pressure causing damage to soft tissue such as skin, fat, muscle and fascia (Godman & Fuller, 2015). Most pressure ulcers begin over bony prominent areas and can occur anywhere bone protrudes. Pressure ulcers occur for several reasons including: external pressure, friction, shearing, tissue softening from moisture, tissue weakening from dehydration, under nourishment and poor circulation (Goodman & Fuller, 2015). Additional patient related influences that can cause pressure ulcers are reduced sensation, poor mobility, incontinence, malnutrition and confusion. Unfortunately, acute care hospital admissions is the most common factor in causing pressure ulcers, because of acute illness and immobility during the hospital stay.

Pressure ulcers are identified and documented in stages I, II, III, IV and unstageable: Stage I is non-blanchable with intact skin, Stage II is non-intact skin with tissue damage to epidermis and/or dermis but superficial, Stage III is non-intact skin with tissue damage to epidermis, dermis, fat and muscle, but not past fascia. Stage IV is non-intact skin with tissue damage to epidermis, dermis, fat, muscle, fascia, bone and / or tendon. Unstageable is non-intact skin with tissue damage that is covered with eschar or necrotic tissue of 50% or more, viewing wound unstageable (Goodman & Fuller, 2015). In addition, pressure ulcers once they are staged should never be backstaged. As the wound heals documentation should be written as healing stage I, II or III and so on (Goodman & Fuller, 2015).

Preventing pressure ulcers from ever happening is difficult and challenging for the patient and caregivers, but is the best line of defense. Prevention guidelines include: patients at risk should undergo a full skin evaluation daily with close attention to bony areas, keep patients skin clean after soiling with gentle washing using gentle soaps and washing to avoid drying or shearing skin, avoid skin drying with adequate moisturizer, avoid skin friction and / or shearing using correct positioning, transferring, turning and use moisturizers, skin barriers and padding, preserve patients activity function and mobility, monitor nutrition to avoid drop in albumin levels and dehydration, reposition all patients at risk every 2 hours or more and use pillows and wedges assist in maintaining positioning and avoid pressure on knees, ankles and heels, use equipment such as trapeze bar, lifts, sliding boards, or sheets to avoid dragging movement, use pressure- redistributing mattresses on all high risk patients, patients who are wheelchair bound are at high risk and should be taught to relieve pressure every 15 to 30 minutes and use pressure- redistributing chair devices such ae Roho cushion (do not use doughnut-type devices) (Goodman & Fuller, 2015).

References

Goodman, C. C., & Fuller, K. S. (2015). Pathology: Implications for the physical therapist.

 

Pressure Ulcers2018-03-20T16:36:55+00:00

Oklahoma Wound Care Services

wound care oklahoma

Yukon Wound Care and Rehabilitation opened in 2014 to serve Yukon and Oklahoma rural residents with excellent affordable wound care services.  We currently serve Yukon, Mustang, El Reno, Piedmont, Chickasha and many other rural areas in Oklahoma. Our patients receive up to date compassionate wound care so they don’t have to travel to the metro area for care. Many patients cannot or don’t want to travel to the Oklahoma City, Midwest City or Norman for wound care.

Several of our patients have shared stories of not being able to wear shoes for 5 years due large draining wounds causing restricted walking and difficult adult daily activities. Furthermore, we have patients that come to us for successful healing after years of failed wound care at other facilities.

Our facility strives to reduce pain, restore function and heal wounds as quick as possible and affordable.  We are committed to serve not only Yukon, but all metro and surrounding Oklahoma Cities with the latest wound care assessment, skills and products.

In addition to wound care services we also specialize in women’s health, orthopedic, cardio conditioning, vestibular rehab, and pre-habilitation. Our mission is to provide all patients with the results they want and the care they deserve.

Oklahoma Wound Care Services2021-08-25T18:04:09+00:00

Most common types of non-healing wounds

Diabetic ulcer

Wounds that occur as the result of poor circulation, diet and blood sugars.

Pressure sores

Wounds caused by constant pressure resulting in loss of blood supply to a particular area.

Dehisced surgical wound

Wounds that open at surgical site as a result of infection or weakened suture site.

Pilonidal cyst

Cyst removed surgically that surgeon is unable to close due to infection or other reasons.

Venous Insufficiency wounds

Usually lower extremity wound that opens due to weak valves in veins allowing blood to pool thus creating opening.

Sherri Boos, PT, DPT

Yukon Wound Care and Rehabilitation

Phone: 405-265-2255
Fax: 405-265-2215

 

Most common types of non-healing wounds2021-08-25T18:05:28+00:00

Burns

Burns can be extremely painful for the patient and difficult to manage for the clinician. Over the years I treated many burns including babies, children and older adults. Understanding burns is the basic requirement that is absolutely necessary in the healing process. During the initial assessment staging the wound is vital and is done by sensation tests throughout the involved tissue because the entire burn will vary in depth causing sensation changes over the peri wound and wound itself.

First degree wounds are the most painful because nerve endings are inflamed and fully exposed encompassing the epidermis layer causing redness and swelling (MedlinePlus, 2014). First degree burns usually heal in 7 to 10 days with topical medication and light debridement. Second degree burns involve the epidermis and dermal layers and remain painful because the nerves are exposed causing redness, swelling and blisters (MedlinePlus, 2014).

Second degree burns heal in 10 to 21 days requiring topical medication and moderate firm debridement timely to avoid scaring. Third degree burns involve the epidermis, dermis and hypodermis layers with much less pain because the nerves are fully damaged causing numbness, redness, swelling, blisters and thick eschar (MedlinePlus, 2014). Third degree burns heal in 21 days to months and usually require surgical debridement, skin grafting resulting in severe scaring and soft tissue restrictions.

Burns are devided into 4 categories of depth: epidermial, superficial partial thickness, deep partial thickness and full-thickess (Devgan et al. 2006). Epidermal and superficial partial thickness are considered 1st and 2nd degree requiring non-operative wound treatment, but deep partial thickness and full-thickness are considered 3rd degree burns and often require operative more invasive care (Devgan et al. 2006).

Clinical understanding of these categories is vital in the wound healing process because burn wounds undergo a conversion process that imped healing (Devgan et al. 2006). The conversion process is described as 3 complicated zones: viable zone of coagulation, continued viable stasis zone and edematous zone of hyperemia (obstruction of blood flow) (Devgan et al. 2006). Wound healing is interrupted in these 3 zones requiring timely assessment and intervention, which is why this research article looked at various modalities to improve depth assessment (Devgan et al. 2006). The most used and cost effective method is bedside clinical exam with an accuracy of two thirds of burns assessing appearance, staging of capillary refill, capillary staining and sensation testing with light touch and pin prick (Devgan et al. 2006).

However, bedside assessment limitations are consistent clinical knowledge of burns leading to error of overestimation of burn depth and validity of diagnosis (Devgan et al. 2006). The available modalities that are listed in this article are: biopsy and histology, thermography, vial dyes, indocyanine green video angiography and laser doppler flowmetry (Devgan et al. 2006).

Biopsy and histology is 100% accurate but has drawbacks of invasiveness and added tissue damage and scarring, increased cost of experienced pathologist and subjective interpretation (Devgan et al. 2006). Thermography is a modality that measures tissue temperature to diagnose burn depth with an accuracy of 90%, but has disadvantages of false positive depth secondary to loss of heat within the tissue after 3 days of the burn (Devgan et al. 2006).

Vital dyes is a modality rarely used that employs intravenous injection of fluorescein dye surveyed by illumination of 360 to 400 ultraviolet light over damaged tissue looking for depth but cannot differentiate between superficial and deep partial-thickness wounds or recognize healthy tissue covered with eschar (Devgan et al. 2006).

Indocyanine green video angiography (ICG) is a modality that uses videography that pictures changes in tissue perfusion with intravenous injection of IGC looking for dye uptake within the damaged tissue (Devgan et al. 2006). This modality has the potential to gain popularity but has disadvantages of cost and large infrastructure requirements as well as interference with topical medication used for burn intervention (Devgan et al. 2006).

Laser doppler flowmetry monitors perfusion using mono frequency light waves with an accuracy of 90 to 97% (Devgan et al. 2006).

However, this modality has limitations as well because it involves using a probe and pressure directly on the burned tissue subjecting the tissue to infection and additional wound trauma (Devgan et al. 2006). In addition to the above modalities there is considerable research that is underway using advance modalities of: Optic measurements, nuclear imaging, and non-contact high frequency US to improve burn depth assessment (Devgan et al. 2006).

All of the mentioned modalities sound very promising in assessing burn depth to aide in diagnosing and timely intervention in burn victims. However, in my opinion improvement in consistent clinician assessment is necessary followed by a referral as soon as possible to the next level of care for the best outcome.

Respectfully,
Sherri Boos, PT, DPT

Figure 1 (MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia Image, 2014).

References
Burns: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia Image. (n.d.). Retrieved August 3, 2014, from
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/imagepages/1078.htm
Devgan, L., Bhat, S., Aylward, S., & Spence, R. J. (2006). Modalities for the assessment of burn
wound depth. Journal of Burns and Wounds, 5, 7-15. Retrieved from Utica College.

Burns2020-03-04T20:29:26+00:00

Cellulitis

Cellulitis is a quick spreading infection caused by bacteria that enters the skin and subcutaneous structures resulting in severe inflammation that invades superficial tissue (Goodman & Fuller, 2009). In adults the bacteria that usually causes cellulitis is either streptococcus pyogenes or staphylococcus and in children the bacteria is commonly haemophilus
influenza type b, other types of bacteria can cause cellulitis but is not as common (Goodman & Fuller, 2009).

Patients at high risk for cellulitis include older adults and individuals with diabetes, malnutrition, steroid medication, and existing wounds (Goodman & Fuller, 2009). Anyone can acquire cellulitis because all of us have bacteria on our skin and under our nails that could enter with a scratch or scrap of the skin. Frequent hand washing is the best way to avoid getting cellulitis, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) strongly recommend washing your hands for 20 seconds while humming the happy birthday song twice (CDC Features – Wash Your Hands, 2014).

Hand washing is recommended after food preparation, blowing your nose, coughing, toileting, touching trash or pets, changing diapers, touching dressing or sores, before eating and preparing food (CDC Features – Wash Your Hands, 2014). Many times patients with lower extremity edema resemble cellulitis as a result of medication induced sodium overload and can add to the clinician’s confusion (Simon, 2014).

Cellulitis typically affects the soft fatty tissue and skin, but can invade the deep tissue around the muscle causing skin erythema, edema, blisters, tenderness to touch and severe weight bearing pain, and occasionally nodular firmness (Goodman & Fuller, 2009). I frequently describe cellulitis to my patients as a soft tissue infection that resembles a severe sunburn occurring from the inside out.

Cellulitis presents as blotches of red skin that is hot and painful with defined borders and frequently cause red lines stretching out from the blotches that signify infected lymph structures (Goodman & Fuller, 2009). In addition, odor within the wound of cellulitis is not apparent because the exudate is serous thin (clear or yellow) drainage not purulent thick (green or yellow) drainage.

Epidemiology of cellulitis has a rate of 24.6 per 1000 persons affecting males more than females and patients between 45 and 65 years old with the most common infected site being the lower extremity (Ellis et al. 2006). My role in cellulitis is recognizing the clinical signs, to avoid misdiagnosis and to provide appropriate intervention using topical medication and debridement.

Additional interventions include: extremity elevation, topical medication such as Silvadene, gel cool packs, dressing to absorb exudate and if necessary debridement (Nazarko, 2008). Patients will complain of sudden fever or flu symptoms, severe pain in the affected area, redness and swelling that spreads quickly (PubMed Health, 2013; Nazarko, 2008). Cellulitis is frequently misdiagnosed by as much as 1/3 of the time because the symptoms are confused with venous eczema, oedema with blisters, venous insufficiency ulcers, deep venous thrombosis (DVT), thrombophlebitis, liposclerosis, and vasculitis (Nazarko, 2008).

Cellulitis is diagnosed using clinical features of a sudden onset of a red distinct area that is hot, swollen with or without blisters and extremely painful to touch and walk on along with accurate patient history (Nazarko, 2012). Upon patient exam the reddened area is outlined with a permanent marker to observe progression of infection or improvement followed by consistent observation (Nazarko, 2012).

In most cases of cellulitis there will be presence of a lesion, cut or fissure that indicates bacteria entry with systemic symptoms of inflammation (Simon, 2014). Many individuals will go to urgent care facilities for cellulitis that is why a classification system was developed for clinicians to use to categorize for timely intervention (Nazarko, 2008; Nazarko 2012). This system uses 4 classes to help providers identify interventional strategies including: class one is patients that have no poisonousness systemic symptoms who respond to oral antibiotics, class two are patients who feel either healthy or ill, but have predisposing factors such as peripheral vascular disease, chronic venous insufficiency, or extremely obese affecting healing require intravenous out-patient antibiotics, class three are individuals feeling ill and have acute sign of confusion, tachycardia, shortness of breath, hypotension, or other causes that may influence healing requiring in-patient antibiotics, class four are patients with septicemia or necrotizing fasciitis requiring in-patient intensive care and antibiotics. (Nazarko, 2008; Nazarko 2012).

Evidence-based treatment for cellulitis is oral antibiotics such as cephalosporins for non-problematic cases and doxycycline or co-trimoxazole for stronger bacterial strains (Petrou, 2011). Basic CBC lab test can be used to help in differential diagnosis of cellulitis as well as biopsies to identify whether the invasion is bacterial, viral, fungal, parasitic, or a mycobacterial cause (Petrou, 2011). Complications of cellulitis include: sepsis, osteomyelitis, lymphangitis, endocarditis, meningitis, shock and gaseous gangrene (PubMed Health, 2013). To make cellulitis more complicated for the clinician there is secondary causes of cellulitis that include: surgical dehisced peri wound cellulitis, abscess cellulitis, burn cellulitis, trauma cellulitis and lymphedema cellulitis, but these are not the typical bacterial invading cellulitis but rather the result of a primary cause.

In conclusion, cellulitis is a condition that progresses quickly within approximately 24 hours resulting in defined redness, swelling, blisters, severe superficial inflammation, pain, and flu like symptoms usually with some type of skin lesion, cut or scratch that allows bacteria entry. Timely accurate diagnosis is imperative because delayed and / or inappropriate treatment can cause septicemia, death, unnecessary tissue grafting, increased hospitalization length of stay, re-admissions and outrageous health care cost. Cellulitis requires specific oral or intravenous antibiotics to combat the bacterial infection, pain medication to alleviate pain and interventional wound care is needed to facilitate quick healing and avoid scaring. Cellulitis classification system approach using 4 classes was introduced to health care providers to facilitate out-patient verse in-patient care and to assist in urgency decision and avoid unnecessary hospital admissions. Cellulitis can be confusing for providers because many providers confuse the condition with other similar conditions such as venous eczema, traumatic injury inflammation, oedema with blisters, venous insufficiency ulcers, DVT, thrombophlebitis, liposclerosis, and vasculitis. Unsophisticated lab test such as a CBC can help in diagnosing cellulitis as well as detailed biopsy. Modalities of choice are plain radiography for differential diagnosis initially followed by the inexpensive ultrasound that is extremely accurate and readily available. CT and MRI modality is noninvasive, but are more expensive imaging tests that can identify superficial cellulitis extending to deep tissue anatomy to rule out life threating conditions such as necrotizing fasciitis. Simple frequent hand washing using the 20 second rule is recommended by the CDC to minimize contracting bacterial cellulitis and many other invasive conditions. Cellulitis can be treated with many different topical agents including Silvadene, Bacitracin and Neosporin to sooth the burning inflamed tissue and help in healing progression. It has been my experience that Silvadene topical cream refrigerated is more soothing to cellulitis that Bacitracin or Neosporin.
References
Cellulitis – National Library of Medicine – PubMed Health. (2013, May 15). Retrieved August 6, 2014, from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001858/.
CDC Features – Wash Your Hands. (n.d.). Retrieved August 8, 2014, from http://www.cdc.gov/Features/HandWashing/
Ellis, S., VanOrman, E. R., Hatch, B. E., Jones, S. S., Gren, L. H., Hegmann, K. T., & Lyon, J. L. (2006). Cellulitis incident in a defined population. Epidemiology Infect, 134(2), 239-299. doi:10.1017/S095026880500484X. Retrieved from Utica College.
Goodman, C. C., & Fuller, K. S. (2009). Pathology implications for the physical therapist (3rd ed.). Missouri: Saunders Elsevier.
Nazarko, L. (2008). Infection control: Cellulitis. Nursing & Residents Care, 10(4), 177-179. Retrieved from Utica College.
Nazarko, L. (2012). An evidence-based approach to diagnosis and management of cellulitis. British Journal of Community Nursing, 17(1), 6-8. Retrieved from Utica College.
Petrou, L. (2011). Cellulitis conundrum. Clinical Dermatology, 35-36. Retrieved from Utica College.
Simon, E. B. (2014). Leg edema assessment and management. Med Surg Nursing, 23(1), 44-53. Retrieved from Utica College.

Cellulitis2022-11-30T16:38:52+00:00
Job Opening: Front Office Assistant - Apply Today!Read More
Go to Top