Wound Care
““Wound healing is very much an art. Each wound has its own personality. My job is to figure out why the wound isn’t healing and change its environment so that it has the best chance to heal. Just as we change our personality, wounds can change from visit to visit, so it is important to evaluate and understand why the wound is struggling at each visit.”
”
Dr. Andersen and Wound care
Andersen Orthopedics also specializes in the evaluation and treatment of non-healing wounds, in addition to specializing in providing medical services for maladies of the foot and ankle.
Dr. Andersen is considered an expert in the treatment of wound healing, and is certified in Hyperbaric Medicine. She has provided numerous lectures on wound care and served on staff at wound care centers.
About Wound Care
Throughout our life, intact skin protects our body from bacteria. However, when the skin is broken, we lose our first line of defense. When the skin is broken, we want the open wound to heal as quickly as possible as it is important to our functioning and well-being. When a wound does not heal, we are at the risk of infection.
Frequently Asked Questions:
What should I do if I have a non-healing or a wound that I believe is infected?
If you have a non-healing wound that has not started to heal within two weeks or a wound that you believe is infected, please contact our office at 925.400.6900 if you would like to schedule an appointment to be seen, evaluated and treated.
What causes non-healing wounds?
There numerous causes of non-healing wounds. Causes include the following:
Trauma including burns
Surgical incisions that have opened
Diabetic Ulcers
Ulcers due to poor circulation
Radiation burns
Pressure wounds due to not moving
Why won't the wound heal?
Similar to the above, there are numerous causes that complicate the healing of wounds. These include:
Medical conditions such as diabetes
Poor circulation
High bacteria load
Poor nutrition
Pressure on the wound
Smoking
Is wound care and treatment covered by insurance?
There are many different approaches to wound treatment. Most are covered by insurance but some of the newer technology which Dr. Andersen uses may not be.
She works with each patient to heal their wound as quickly as possible using all the means that are available.
More Information on wound care from Dr. Andersen
Wound healing is multifactorial.
Wounds need moisture - but not too much.
Wounds struggle if there is too much bacteria. It is necessary to balance the bacteria and moisture to assure that the body has the bacteria it needs to function normally.
Wounds need an adequate blood supply to heal as well as appropriate nutrition to heal.
As an example, it doesn't matter how many people you have on a site to build a house if you don't have the materials to build it. Similar to building a house, if all of the appropriate factors are not addressed, a wound will not heal.