When you have a severe, infected, or non-healing sore on your foot, ankle, or lower leg, you need wound care. Non-healing wounds develop when you have a health condition that restricts the blood supply to the area. 

Without enough blood, the wound doesn’t get the oxygen it needs to heal. As a result, the ulcer breaks down more tissues, enlarges, and increases your risk of skin and bone infections. In the most severe cases, the tissues die and result in an amputation.

Innovation Medical Group specializes in treating non-healing foot and ankle wounds caused by:

• Diabetes
• Vascular ulcers
• Venous ulcers
• Pressure ulcers
• Surgical wounds
• Acute and chronic wounds
• Autoimmune disease wounds
• Traumatic skin tears
• Lymphedema and swelling

Though not as common, a lower leg hematoma can also result in an ulcer.

Innovation Medical Group uses the most advanced wound care techniques to help patients recover from non-healing wounds. Your wound care includes:

Assessing the wound
Innovation Medical Group uses cutting-edge technology such as the SnapshotNIR and MolecuLight® to evaluate wounds and make treatment decisions.

SnapshotNIR is a near-infrared imaging device that shows oxygen levels in different parts of the wound. MolecuLight is another handheld imaging device that instantly measures bacteria levels in the wound. The device also determines the size of the wound.

Debriding the wound
Wound debridement removes all the dead and infected tissues in the wound. Your provider cleans the wound in the office and also shows you how to take care of it at home.

Applying dressings and treatments
The environment surrounding the wound can promote or inhibit healing. The type of dressing determines the healing environment for your ulcer.

Your provider chooses from among today’s most advanced dressings to help your ulcer heal. For example, biologic dressings prevent the loss of water, heat, and healing proteins while also keeping out contaminants. Innovative dressings can facilitate wound cleaning and promote new tissue growth.

Innovation Medical Group may use a wide range of treatments to support wound healing, including:

• Compression therapy
• Antibiotic therapy
• Bio-engineered tissue substitutes
• Negative pressure wound therapy
• Nutritional therapy

People with diabetes learn about daily diabetic foot care.

Off-loading the wound
Off-loading relieves the pressure placed on a foot wound when you walk. Your provider may use total contact casting or custom orthotics to off-load your wound.

Treating the underlying condition
If you have diabetes, it’s essential to keep your blood sugar within the normal range. Other underlying causes such as venous disease and peripheral artery disease also need the appropriate treatment to prevent future ulcers.