Wound Care and Amputation Prevention Strategies Help Keep Limbs Intact

Our Central Maryland Foot Doctors Offer This Advice for Treating Wounds Promptly and Preventing Amputation

Every year, approximately 150,000 non-traumatic amputations occur in the U.S. Most of these are the result of foot wounds, also known as ulcers, which are open sores that won’t heal or keep coming back. While we hesitate to trot out the old adage, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” this statement is totally true in foot health.

Put simply, untreated foot wounds lead to extensive complications, including amputations—and they’re not an outcome anyone wishes to experience. At Annapolis Foot & Ankle Center’s Chesapeake Amputation Prevention Center, our skilled amputation prevention podiatrist provides progressive treatment solutions to help you avoid toe and foot amputations, regain your health, and enjoy lasting mobility.

Patients Most at Risk for Amputation

Some medical conditions might delay the healing process in your feet, resulting in ankle and foot ulcers. This failure to heal provides ample opportunity for bacteria to enter wounds and create infections, and infections can spread to other parts of the body and become potentially life-threatening.

Some patients whose feet don’t heal properly may also have decreased sensation in their feet due to nerve damage, and not even realize their foot is injured until it has already become infected. This makes an in-depth look at foot wound recovery even more important, as nerve damage can significantly complicate the healing process.

You might be more at risk of developing foot wounds if you have the following medical issues:

• Blood circulation problems
• Peripheral artery disease
• Diabetes
• Heart disease
• Neuropathy
• Obesity
• Kidney disease
• High blood pressure
• Lymphedema
• Tumors
• Excessive alcohol or tobacco use
• Vascular disease

Amputation is often a last resort doctors must utilize to save a patient's life when other methods of treating a dangerous infection or an advanced foot ulcer fail.

Self-Care Tips for Avoiding Amputation

Knowing how to prevent foot injuries and wounds and responding with prompt wound treatment is a great way to keep your lower limbs intact. Because the majority of amputations to feet and toes occur in diabetic patients, it’s especially important for them to rely on a foot wound specialist who can provide timely care, stop the progression of foot wounds, and help prevent amputation.

At Annapolis Foot & Ankle Center, our podiatrists often recommend the following lifestyle techniques to ensure better health.

Disease Management

Bacteria thrive in bodies with high blood sugar—and increased glucose levels actually boost bacteria growth. This cycle compromises your immune system, which means foot wounds take longer to heal. If you have diabetes, it’s critical to consistently monitor and keep your blood sugar within the recommended range. By doing so, you reduce the odds of bacteria endangering your limbs. Regulating your blood pressure and cholesterol also makes it easier to maintain foot health.

Always Wear Shoes

Footwear is like armor for an immunocompromised person. They protect your feet from puncture wounds, scrapes, and cuts. If you have a condition that keeps your feet from healing properly, wear shoes anytime you’re moving around. 

Select the Right Footwear

For some people with medical issues, even a minor injury or wound like a blister from too-tight shoes can quickly become a major problem. It’s important to always choose socks and footwear that reduce your risk of injury. We often advise:

• Shoes that give your toes plenty of wiggle room but hold your heel securely in place.
• Minimal seams inside your shoes and socks and strategically placed to avoid friction.
• Moisture-wicking materials for both socks and footwear that help keep your feet dry. 

Daily Foot Care

Maintaining healthy feet is an easy preventative measure. Your daily care routine should include: 

• Foot checks to inspect for injuries, paying special attention to:
  • Inside the leg just above the ankle
  • The parts of your feet and toes that are especially weight-sensitive
  • Heels
  • Tips of toes
  • Where toes rub on each other
  • On bony parts of your feet that rub on socks and shoes
  • Your nail beds, especially anywhere you might have had a previous issue
• Wash your feet thoroughly with mild soap and water and then dry completely, particularly between your toes
• Moisturizing your feet and heels with a high-quality lotion to prevent cracks and fissures 

Engaging in Approved Exercise

Regular movement improves circulation, which can help maintain your body’s ability to heal itself. Exercise is also essential for regulating blood sugar levels. Always talk to your primary care doctor, a physical therapist, or a fitness professional before starting a new exercise routine.

Stay Hydrated

Drinking a lot of water increases circulation, prevents dry skin and cracking where bacteria can enter your feet, and improves your overall health. How much is “a lot”? It really depends, but most physicians recommend at least 11 cups daily for women and 15 cups daily for men. 

Cut Carefully

When trimming your toenails, be sure to cut straight across and not at an angle that rounds off the edges to avoid ingrown toenails. This condition causes a nail to pierce the tissue around it, establishing a prime breeding site for bacteria and more serious foot wounds. 

When Foot Wounds Require Medical Care 

If your feet are at risk for developing ulcers, call Annapolis Foot & Ankle Center to make an appointment with our Chesapeake amputation prevention experts at the first sign of an injury, especially if you notice the signs of a potential infection. These symptoms include: 

• Redness
• Swelling
• Dark or black, dead skin surrounding the injury
• Pain or irritation
• Skin that is hot to the touch
• Pus or other liquid oozing from the sore
• Unpleasant odor

Don’t wait to get medical care, as this can have serious consequences such as: 

• Foot and ankle ulcers
• Infections
• Gangrene
• Sepsis
• Hospitalizations
• Amputations
• Decreased mobility

How Annapolis Foot & Ankle Foot Doctors Help You Treat Foot Ulcers and Avoid Amputation

The podiatrists at our offices in Central Maryland are amputation prevention specialists. We develop an individualized care plan to meet your needs and reduce your risk of amputation through surgical and non-surgical interventions. Your treatment plan might include: 

• Education about how to clean and inspect your feet
• Assistance in choosing proper footwear
• Offloading weight and pressure with crutches, a scooter, or a wheelchair
• Custom orthotics
• Compression
• Vaporox foot wound treatment
• Antibiotics
• Topical Creams
• Anti-clotting medications
• Amniotic tissue grafts
• Moist dressings
• Alginate dressings
• Collagen wound dressings
• Debridement
• Synthetic skin substitutes
• Composite dressings

We take great pride in providing quality care our patients appreciate. As Alma D. said, “Everyone is professional and it’s a very friendly staff. The doctor listened and asked me if I had any questions. And you don't sit around all day waiting to be seen.” Keep this in mind if you need urgent medical attention for a foot ulcer—we offer same-day appointments.