Curiosin - Even chronic wound healing can be fast


Chronic Wound Treatment at Home / Part 2.

István Rozsos MD, PhD, MBA
Vascular Surgeon
Specialist of Advanced Chronic Wound Care Techniques
Theta Medical and Aesthetic Centre, Pécs, Hungary
Lecturer at University of Pécs, Hungary

 


 

In the present article wound treatment and follow-up care will be touched upon so as to allow you to take a closer look at the practical reality of wound treatment.

In our previous publication we dealt with the types of chronic wounds as well as the characteristics of wounds that could be treated at home. We presented the possibilities of a multi-level prevention, pointed out its crucial importance and provided a detailed description on the place and role of zinc-hyaluronate in this process. At the end of our essay we promised to continue this line of thought. In the present article we will touch upon wound healing and follow-up care and allow you to take a closer look at the practical reality of wound treatment.

Wound treatment

The lack or insufficient level of prevention results in the formulation of wound or wounds. Many patients turn to a physician only when the wound has already appeared and only then is the condition of the underlying disease detected and the diagnosis set up. The particular wound can be categorized into the appropriate group following the examinations considered important by the specialists (e.g.: sampling for bacteria culturing, the surgical examination of the depth of necrosis), based on their findings. Once the properties of the underlying disease and the formulated wound are known, the wound healing strategy can be determined, obviously taking into account the accompanying diseases.

Thus we have reached the point when the source of the problem is revealed – we „suffer” from the consequences – the proper therapy to be applied is about to take shape.

Zinc-hyaluronate can rightly be called the Jolly Joker of wound treatment. In the wound healing card game it can replace many cards since in most phases of wound healing it functions as an active assistive.

Hyaluronate is an essential component of the skin, it facilitates regeneration and provides the moist environment necessary for wound healing. At the same time its combination with zinc provides an additional advantage: it prevents the superinfection of the wound and helps decrease inflammation and pain. Besides its favourable properties its application does not entail enhanced risks. As opposed to this reassuring recommendation, the erroneous choice of intelligent dressings – if applied in an ill-determined wound healing stage – may cause a decline in wound healing time or in a more adverse scenario may even result in the deterioration of wound status.

Yet, just like in a card game, a Joker is not worth much if you do not have other appropriate trump-cards or an appropriate concept, therefore, it is crucial also in wound treatment to always pay ample attention to the main direction of the treatment and the strict observation of regulations concerning wound treatment since in this imaginary card game these cards are  equally important. Once daily medical participation is no longer necessary, do dare to treat and heal these wounds at home. Use zinc-hyaluronate – as a Jolly Joker – with confidence because you need it! Everybody knows that in a card game an unplayed card is worthless if by the end of the game it remains in our hands unutilized.

In the case of hard-to-heal wounds on the limbs the strongest trump-card may be compression therapy, which may be implemented with the application of an elastic bandage but in case of well-fixed dressings also with elastic compression stockings. This factor should not be forgotten or left out of consideration if the aim is lasting success.

The team is together, „everybody” is doing their jobs, the wound gets smaller and smaller, eventually it is a miniature wound, practically epithelizing. We would be happy to say that it has healed but it is just the appearance. Our body is striving to eliminate the defect of the epithelium as soon as possible but the regeneration of all layers of the skin – the genuinely resistant skin – requires much more time.

A piece of good advice

The two most important aspects in the domestic treatment of wounds: the protection of the cleaned wound from superinfection and the facilitation of rapid epithelization.

Follow-up care of wounds

Zinc-hyaluronate may again have a role in follow-up care, i.e. in the stabilization of the conditions of wound healing since it contains ingredients essential for the regeneration of the layers of the skin. The antiphlogistic role of zinc is well known from relevant research as well, which also facilitates the regeneration of the skin.

In the light of this, what is to be done at home at the treatment of hard-to-heal wounds once daily participation of the physician is no longer necessary in wound treatment?

  • Wash the wound – the perilesional skin surface is cleaned of possible pathogens with an antiseptic solution – then the appropriate preparation is to be spread on the wound evenly.
  • It is important to spread the preparation on the perilesional skin surface as well since by this you protect the wound borders and facilitate the process of regeneration.
  • Following the imbibitions of the preparation, the necessary cover dressing is to be applied.
  • The process of wound treatment is concluded with compression therapy.

This form of treatment of hard-to-heal wounds is infinitely simple and efficient but only if each step of the treatment – all built on one another – is observed and if we do not make compromises for convenience.

It is very important to respect the opponent – in this particular case the chronic wound because if you know its characteristics and you have got the right trump-cards in your hands – with ample humility we will surely overcome it.