Advanced Wound Care
Advanced wound care refers to specialized, evidence-based treatments and technologies designed to address chronic, complex, or non-healing wounds.
Unlike traditional wound care, which primarily focuses on keeping a wound dry and protected, advanced wound care employs a holistic approach that targets the underlying factors preventing proper healing. This specialized care is typically administered by wound care specialists in dedicated clinics or hospitals.
Core principles
Moist wound healing:
Advanced care promotes a moist wound environment, which is proven to support tissue regeneration and accelerate healing.
Addressing underlying causes:
A critical first step is a thorough evaluation of the patient’s overall health to diagnose conditions that might impede healing, such as diabetes, poor circulation, or infection.
Personalized treatment:
Treatment plans are customized based on a wound’s size, depth, and specific needs, as well as the patient’s individual health status.
Prevention of complications:
By accelerating healing, advanced wound care reduces the risk of serious complications, including systemic infections and amputation.
Advanced Wound Care Therapies and Technologies
Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT):
Also known as a “wound vac,” this technique uses a vacuum-assisted device to apply controlled suction to a wound. This helps remove excess fluid, reduce swelling, improve blood flow, and stimulate the growth of new tissue.
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT):
In this therapy, the patient breathes 100% oxygen in a pressurized chamber. This dramatically increases the amount of oxygen in the bloodstream, which is critical for tissue repair, fighting infection, and stimulating new blood vessel growth.
Bioengineered skin substitutes:
For large or severe wounds, these lab-created materials can be applied to replace damaged skin. They provide a structural framework that guides the growth of new tissue.
Specialized dressings:
Modern dressings include materials like hydrogels, hydrocolloids, foams, and alginates. These products are designed to maintain optimal moisture balance, absorb excess fluid, and protect the wound.
Antimicrobial treatments:
For infected wounds or those at high risk of infection, special dressings or treatments containing agents like silver or medical-grade honey are used to fight harmful bacteria.