Venous Wound Diagnosis and Treatment in Lubbock, TX

Venous Wound Treatment in Lubbock, TX

A venous wound or ulcer is a chronic wound in your leg that does not heal on time. It is a non-healing wound that could take months or even years to recover.

Venous wounds usually develop on the inside of the leg just above the ankle region. Venous ulcers usually affect older people and chronic smokers. It is an estimation that 1 out of every 50 people who are above the age of 80 has venous ulcers.

If a venous ulcer is not treated, it can lead to severe complications and health conditions. The wound may also get infected. Extreme cases may require amputation of the affected leg.

Causes of Venous Wound

A venous wound is caused by the damage or non-functioning of the veins in your legs. The veins in your legs are responsible for transmitting blood from your portion to your heart. The valves in the veins help to block the flow of blood back into the veins. When the valves become damaged or non-functional, they cannot stop blood flow back into the veins.

When this occurs, blood flows back into the veins and pools in the lower part of the leg, causing increased pressure on the lower part of your leg. This increased pressure weakens and breaks the skin on the lower part of your leg, usually around the ankle. The break in the skin forms a wound that does not heal on time.

Risk Factors for Venous Wound

Certain factors increase the risk of a venous wound. These include:

Previous leg injury
Older people
Heavy smokers
Individuals with swollen veins or enlarged veins
Obesity
Osteoarthritis
Paralysis
Diabetes
Varicose veins
Individuals who had a recent leg operation or knee replacement surgery
Individuals with circulatory problems such as blood clots or phlebitis

Symptoms of Venous Wound

The symptoms you will experience at the early stage of a venous wound are pretty different from those you will experience at the latter stage and when the wound has been infected.

Symptoms of the early stage of venous wound include:

The skin around the wound will become discolored
Hardened skin around the wound
Swollen ankles
Aching and swollen legs
Itching and pains around the wound
Reddish and scaly skin
Swollen and enlarged veins.

Symptoms of the latter stage of venous wound include:

Worsening pain
A foul smell emitting from the wound
Greenish or unpleasant discharges were emitting coming from the wound.
High fever

Diagnosis of Venous Wound in Lubbock, TX

During diagnosis, a physical examination of the wound and the skin around the wound will be conducted. You will be asked some questions about your medical history. You may also be asked if you have diabetes, deep vein thrombosis, or have previously suffered an injury.

The skin around the wound will be examined for hardened skin, pains, or loss of sensations.

The pulse rate in your ankle area may be examined to determine if your arteries are still functioning correctly.

Some tests may be conducted, such as;

1. Doppler test

A Doppler study helps to ascertain if the possible cause of the wound is a result of peripheral arterial disease. We will measure your blood pressure in the arteries in your ankles and compare it with the blood pressure in the arteries in your arms. If the blood pressure in your ankles is lower than that of your arms, it signifies that you have the peripheral arterial disease.

2. Imaging scans

You may undergo imaging scans such as x-rays, CT scans, and MRI scans to determine the wound’s severity and if it affects nearby bones.

Treatment of Venous Wound in Lubbock, TX

The first course of venous wound treatment is to improve blood flow back to the heart. This can be done by the use of a compression bandage or stocking. The compression bandage or stocking squeezes your leg and helps blood to flow upwards to the heart. It also increases your body’s ability to heal the wound.

1. Debridement

Wound Debridement is done to remove dead and dry tissue from the surface of the wound. This allows the wound to be cleaned appropriately and also facilitates the healing of the wound.

2. Cleaning

After debridement, wound will be gently cleaned. After the wound has been cleaned, necessary medications and antibiotic ointments may be applied to facilitate healing and prevent the wound from getting infected.

3. Wound Dressing and bandaging

After the wound has been cleaned and medications applied, the wound will be dressed appropriately and bandaged to protect it from debris and bacteria. The dressing will be changed periodically when it gets soaked with fluids or blood.

4. Oral medications

Oral medications such as antibiotics may also be given if the wound is infected. If you feel severe pain, you may be given paracetamol or painkillers to relieve the pain. You will need to keep your leg elevated most times to allow blood flow to your heart and to ease pain and swelling.

Corticosteroid cream or ointment may be applied to the affected area if you feel excessive itching or have rashes or scaly skin. If you feel itching, try as much as possible to reduce the rate you scratch your legs. This is because excessive scratching of the affected leg could damage your skin and lead to infection.

5. Surgery

Surgery might be recommended in some cases to improve the circulation in your legs and blood flow back to your heart. Surgery such as subfascial endoscopic perforating vein surgery (SEPS) or superficial vein ligation may be recommended.

Prevention of Venous Wound

To reduce your risk of developing a venous wound, there are certain things you must do.

Commit to a healthy lifestyle and eat healthy diets.
Shed your excess weight and maintain a healthy body weight.
Quit smoking
Reduce your salt intake.
Keep your legs elevated whenever possible, mainly when lying on the bed.
Engage in regular exercise.
Take aspirin occasionally to prevent blood clots.
Control your blood sugar level.
Seek medical treatment for diabetes or high blood pressure.

Southwest Wound Care: Best Clinic for Venous Wound Treatment in Lubbock, Tx

Best Clinic for Venous Wound Treatment in Lubbock, Tx

The venous wound can negatively impact your quality of life. If you have a venous wound, you most likely find it very uncomfortable and disturbing. You need timely and proper treatment to prevent venous wounds from getting worse.

Southwest Wound Care is the best clinic that provides venous wound treatment in & Lubbock, TX, and other types of wounds. We are a sought-after clinic that offers start-of-the-art therapies for patients with venous wounds.

We have a team of devoted medical professionals who are highly trained and experienced in venous wound treatment and management.