Memorial Hospital Pembroke Center for Wound Healing
Don’t miss out on the good things in life because of a wound that won’t heal. A comprehensive approach for wound care may help you return to your favorite activities. The Center for Wound Healing at Memorial Hospital Pembroke is dedicated to the prevention and treatment of hard-to-heal wounds caused by diabetes, poor circulation, surgical incisions and pressure sores.
Problem Wounds
At the Center for Wound Healing, our physicians, nurses and technicians understand the many factors that may delay or prevent wound healing, and we utilize a variety of wound care services, including some of the most advanced treatment options. The wound care team conducts a complete history and physical exam for each patient to develop the most effective, individualized treatment plan. Laboratory studies, X-rays and vascular studies also may be performed to determine the cause of the patient’s hard-to-heal wounds.
Wound Treatment for Various Conditions
The Center for Wound Healing features a multidisciplinary team of physicians, surgeons, technicians and nurses with years of experience in treating hard-to-heal wounds. Patients benefit from one-on-one instruction, including diabetes education, foot care, nutrition, smoking cessation, exercise, skin care and prevention of future injuries.
Conditions that may benefit from treatment:
- Hard-to-heal wounds
- Post-radiation tissue injury
- Diabetes-related foot and ankle ulcers
- Burns
- Crush injuries
- Infection
- Wounds caused by poor circulation or trauma
- Compromised grafts and flaps
- Gangrene
- Venous stasis or arterial insufficiency ulcers
- Pressure ulcers
- Necrotizing soft tissue infections
- Carbon monoxide poisoning
Individualized Treatment Plan
A specialized treatment plan may include a combination of any of the following services:
- Surgical debridement to remove infected tissue and bone
- Antibiotic therapy
- Application of specialty dressings
- Off-loading with crutches, wheelchairs and other devices
- Nutritional supplements
- Physical therapy
- Revascularization to improve blood flow
- Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy to help raise oxygen levels at the wound site
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
Hyperbaric Oxygen (HBO) Therapy is an accepted therapy for the treatment of many problem wounds. Conditions that may benefit from HBO are:
- Carbon monoxide poisoning
- Compromised grafts and flaps
- Crush injuries
- Diabetic wounds of the lower extremity
- Gangrene
- Air or gas embolism
- Decompression sickness
- Enhancement of healing in select wounds
- Exceptional blood loss anemia
- Post-radiation injury
- Necrotizing soft tissue infections
- Refractory osteomyelitis
- Intracranial abscess
- Thermal burns
Lying in the transparent cylinder of the Hyperbaric Oxygen chamber, the patient has an unobstructed view outside and the ability to talk to an attendant through an intercom. During HBO treatment, the patient may relax by sleeping, listening to music or watching television. As the chamber is gradually pressurized, the patient may feel a “fullness” in the ears similar to that experienced when diving under water or flying in an airplane. Trained attendants will help the patient overcome this temporary sensation.
As with any treatment, minor side effects may occur. Patients are advised of safety precautions and preparations prior to treatment.
A Comprehensive Program
In addition to regular visits for treatment and follow-up, patients are advised to abstain from smoking, to follow a nutritional diet and to refrain from walking or applying pressure to the wound area. The patient’s referring physician will be kept informed with regular progress reports. And once the wound has healed, the patient will return to the referring physician for continuum of care.
If you have a chronic, non-healing wound, please ask your doctor for a referral to the Center for Wound Healing. If you would like a referral to a physician, call Memorial Physician Referral Service toll-free at (800) 944-DOCS.
To contact the Center for Wound Healing at Memorial Hospital Pembroke, call
(954) 963-8014.