Wound Care

Your feet, ankles, and lower legs are vulnerable to wounds and ulcers that don’t heal on their own, putting you at risk for infections that lead to amputations and can turn life-threatening. At Foot Ankle Leg Wound Care Orange County in Mission Viejo, California, double-board-certified podiatric surgeon and wound care specialist Thomas Rambacher, DPM, FACFAS, FAPWCA, uses his expertise in advanced wound care to promote healing and prevent or treat infections. Call the office today or use online booking to request a wound care appointment.

When would I need wound care?

Don’t wait to seek expert wound care from Dr. Rambacher if you have any of the following on your foot, ankle, or leg:

• An infected wound
• A non-healing wound (a wound that doesn’t heal in 4-6 weeks)
• A tiny cut or abrasion (and you’re diagnosed with diabetes or vascular disease)

You may also need expert wound care after Dr. Rambacher removes a benign or malignant tumor.

What medical conditions increase the need for wound care?

Foot, ankle, and leg wounds (ulcers) that come from diabetes and blood vessel diseases are notorious for failing to heal without intensive wound care. Non-healing wounds get wider and deeper, putting you at risk for skin and bone infections, gangrene (tissue death), and amputation.

The medical conditions responsible for most non-healing wounds include:

Diabetes

High blood sugar damages blood vessels in your feet, depriving wounds of the oxygen-rich blood needed to heal. As a result, small cuts and abrasions quickly turn into dangerous, non-healing diabetic foot ulcers.

Vascular disease

Two vascular diseases, chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) and peripheral artery disease (PAD), cause ulcers in your lower leg and foot, most often around your ankle.

CVI, which also causes varicose veins, raises venous pressure in your lower leg, pushing fluids from the veins and into the surrounding tissues. As a result, the tissues break down and an ulcer develops.

PAD occurs when cholesterol plaque builds up in a leg artery. As the plaque enlarges and increasingly blocks blood flow, tissues become oxygen-deprived and a non-healing arterial ulcer develops.

What infection management might I receive during wound care?

Assertive medical care is essential to stop a wound infection from spreading. Infection management begins with wound cleansing and debridement, using surgery or specialized instruments and products to eliminate bacteria and dead tissues.

You may need oral and/or topical antibiotics. Dr. Rambacher also applies an antimicrobial dressing and recommends other wound treatments to promote healing.

What treatments might I receive during wound care?

Even with advanced wound care, non-healing wounds can take months to heal. Throughout your treatment, Dr. Rambacher recommends nonsurgical and surgical treatments, such as:

• Nutritional counseling
• Topical medications
• Antibiotic therapy
• Laser therapy
• Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections
• Restorative cell treatments
• Debridement (removing dead and infected tissues)
• Customized orthotics or casting (to eliminate pressure points)
• Vacuum-assisted wound closure
• Surgical wound closure
• Flap reconstruction (orthoplastic surgery)
• Fixation surgery (external fixation to support the limb)
• Skin grafting (advanced skin substitutes)
• Advanced wound dressings

Call Foot Ankle Leg Wound Care Orange County today or request an appointment online to get expert care for any type of wound.