Clinicians from PA Foot and Ankle Associates are encouraging community members to learn more about prevention and treatment options for chronic wounds.

With increased rates of obesity and diseases such as diabetes on the rise, an estimated 6.7 million Americans now suffer from chronic wounds that put them at risk for reduced mobility or amputation.

According to the Amputee Coalition, diabetic foot ulcers now represent the leading cause of non-traumatic lower extremity amputation in the United States.

Fortunately, DFUs are generally preventable. Local community members who live with diabetes can take the following steps to protect their feet:

Become a foot inspector. Examine your feet every day for any cuts, blisters, red spots, swelling, or calluses. Holding a mirror up to the soles of your feet will make this easier. Have a podiatrist or other healthcare professional check your feet at least four times a year.

·Keep your feet clean. Wash your feet every day with soap and warm water. Be sure the water temperature is not too hot. Dry your feet well, especially between the toes.

·Trim your nails. Cut toes straight across and smooth them with a nail file. If you can’t reach your toes, have a podiatrist do this for you.

·Wear the right socks. Always wear thick, soft socks that fit and cushion your foot. Avoid socks with seams, which can rub and cause blisters or other skin injuries.

· Wear the right shoes. Don’t wear poorly fitting high-heeled shoes, sandals, or open-toed shoes. Make sure your shoes fit perfectly to avoid rubbing or blisters that can develop into ulcers. Ask your doctor about whether you should get diabetic shoes.

· Never go barefoot – even around the house. Remember, you may not feel sharp objects that can hurt your feet.

Unfortunately, diabetic foot ulcers and other chronic wounds are not entirely preventable, so when they do occur, it is important for patients to know all of their treatment options.

“When treating chronic wounds, our first priority at PA Foot and Ankle Associates is to achieve wound closure as quickly as possible so we can salvage the limb and avoid amputation,” said Dr. Adam Teichman, D.P.M., board-certified podiatric physician and surgeon. “I encourage anyone battling a non-healing wound to seek care from a wound care specialist immediately.”

Treatment options for chronic wounds include:

·Cleansing and debridement: For ulcers in their earliest stages, the ulcer is cleaned and any dead or dying tissue is removed.

·Application of wound management products. The wound may be dressed with a wound management product, such as PuraPly AM, that gives the wound an optimal environment to heal on its own.

·Application of living cell therapies. If a wound fails to heal after the first month of treatment, physicians may introduce an advanced, FDA-approved wound-healing product.

These living cell therapies help patients with previously unresponsive wounds to generate healthy skin tissue to promote healing. These technologies also represent an incredible advancement in the way DFUs are treated and have often served as a critical last line of defense against amputation.

“We use a variety of advanced therapies and treatment options in our practice,” said Dr. Tom Rocchio, D.P.M., board-certified podiatric physician and surgeon at PA Foot and Ankle Associates. “With the advanced therapies that are available today, many patients whose only option was once amputation, are now able to achieve complete healing.”

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The podiatric surgeons at PA Foot and Ankle Associates are board certified by the American Board of Podiatric Surgery and have extensive training in foot and ankle care and surgery.

For more information on PA Foot and Ankle Associates or to find one of their five locations in the Allentown area, visit pafootdoctors.com.