The Wound Healing Continuum — From Chronic to Acute
Lower extremity wounds, such as diabetic foot ulcers and venous ulcers, are more prone to issues of chronicity and recurrence as a result of factors such as peripheral arterial disease, diabetes, and increased infection rates. Wound care clinicians are familiar with the standard of care in wound management including good wound bed preparation and moisture management, but sometimes, especially in complex lower extremity wounds, these strategies are not enough to achieve wound closure. When best practices are not enough, advanced therapies should be considered to resolve factors impairing wound healing. Advanced therapies can include negative pressure wound therapy, cellular and/or tissue-based products (CTPs), or antimicrobial dressings. Recent studies have demonstrated the benefits of utilizing CTPs as an adjunctive therapy in managing lower extremity wounds to support wound closure. Participants in this session will be able to:
- Describe the long-term effects of chronicity in lower extremity wounds, including amputation and increased mortality
- Understand the properties of CTPs and their effectiveness rates in supporting healing of lower extremity wounds
- Describe the process in which the application of good wound bed preparation followed by application of advanced therapies can return a wound to acute status and eventually lead to closure
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