Foot and Ankle Ulcers Wound Care

Understanding Foot and Ankle Ulcers

Learn what causes foot ulcers, how they are diagnosed, and when to seek care.

Foot and Ankle Ulcer Care

Foot ulcers are slow-healing wounds that occur because of underlying medical conditions like poor circulation or diabetes. Without early intervention and treatment, foot ulcers increase the risk of more serious issues like infection, gangrene, or amputation.

Advanced Foot and Ankle Center specializes in the treatment of foot ulcers caused by venous insufficiency, clotting disorders, diabetes, high blood pressure, kidney failure, lymphedema (swelling in the legs and feet), heart disease, and infections. You might also experience a foot ulcer if you smoke or smoked in the past.

Advanced Foot and Ankle Center treats several types of foot ulcers. Venous stasis ulcers usually form just above the ankles. They are red and covered in yellow, fibrous tissue, and are especially common in people with varicose veins, leg swelling, and blood clots. Neurotrophic ulcers occur as a result of unmanaged diabetes. They can form anywhere but are especially common on the balls and soles of the feet, appearing pink, red, or brown alongside tingling, numbness, or burning. Arterial ulcers form because of poor circulation, typically develop on the heels or between the toes, and are brown, grey, or black. Arterial ulcers do not bleed, but they are incredibly painful, especially after periods of sitting or lying down.

If you have one or more wounds on either of your feet and they do not respond to at-home treatments like bandages and antibiotic ointments, make an appointment at Advanced Foot and Ankle Center right away.

Diagnosis and Treatment Options

To diagnose foot ulcers, your Advanced Foot and Ankle Center provider reviews your medical history and asks about your symptoms. Then, they examine your wounds carefully to assess the size and type, and to determine the best course of treatment. Your provider might also order lab tests, X-rays, or an MRI.

At Advanced Foot and Ankle Center, the team has years of experience diagnosing and treating foot ulcers. Using advanced methods of care, they can relieve pain, speed up your recovery, and heal the wound.

Depending on the type and severity of your ulcer, Advanced Foot and Ankle Center might recommend oral antibiotics, antiplatelet or anti-clotting medication, topical wound care therapies, amniotic wound grafts, compression garments, custom orthotics, hydrogels, antimicrobial dressings, wound debridement, or synthetic skin substitutes.

The experienced podiatrists at Advanced Foot and Ankle Center specialize in wound care. Using advanced treatments like amniotic wound grafts, they can reduce the risk of infection and encourage your body’s healing process. To learn more about the benefits of wound care, make an appointment at Advanced Foot and Ankle Center by calling the nearest office or clicking the online scheduling tool today.