Wound Care

Ulcers (open sores) can develop from poor circulation and persist for several months. If you’ve got a foot ulcer that won’t heal, Dominick Mastracco, DPM, AACFAS, can help at Mastracco Foot & Ankle in North Canton, Ohio. Dr. Mastracco specializes in wound care, using the latest treatments to help your wounds heal and prevent infection. He works closely with wound care centers, Aultman Hospital and Cleveland Clinic Mercy Hospital. To find out how you can benefit from his expertise, call the office or book an appointment online today.

What is wound care?

Wound care helps treatment-resistant foot ulcers and pressure sores to properly heal. These special types of wounds can be very challenging to treat without a skilled physician because they can reach deep into the tissue and sometimes down to the bone.  

Wounds are often painful (but not always) and can limit your mobility if left untreated. Since they’re open sores, it makes it easier for bacteria to infect wounds, making the recovery process even more difficult. An infected wound can even lead to gangrene, where the tissue dies off, and require limb amputation if it advances. 

Dr. Mastracco specializes in wound care, offering advanced treatments to provide you with exceptional results and help you avoid amputation.

What wounds might require specialized care?

Mastracco Foot & Ankle treats all kinds of non-healing foot wounds, including:

Venous ulcers

Venous ulcers are a result of poor circulation that causes the tissues to break down. 

Chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), where your leg veins are dysfunctional and blood can’t travel from your feet to your heart properly, is the most likely cause. It can lead to varicose veins and, in severe cases, ulcers.

Arterial ulcers

Arterial ulcers occur when you have poor circulation in your arteries. Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is the most common cause. It causes your arteries to narrow and restrict blood flow.

Pressure sores

Pressure sores (also known as bed sores) develop in areas of your body that are under constant pressure. When you’re bedridden, it causes your body weight to continuously press on tissues and blood vessels, leading to pressure sores. Long-term immobilization may lead to these types of sores developing.

Diabetic ulcers

Diabetes affects your circulation and may lead to nerve damage (diabetic peripheral neuropathy) that can cause tingling and numbness in your feet. 

Numbness means you may not notice a break (wound) in your skin, and with poor circulation, it greatly reduces your ability to heal. Minor cuts may develop into ulcers (non-healing wounds) when you have diabetes, so it’s important to seek professional diabetic foot care to reduce your risk of developing ulcers.

What does wound care involve?

Dr. Mastracco is an expert wound care specialist with extensive training in foot and ankle wounds. He first cleans the wound and performs debridement, which removes all the infected and dead tissue. Following wound debridement, he may recommend certain treatments, which might include:

• Compression stockings or bandages
• Specialty dressings and wraps
• Amniotic patches
• Skin biologic therapy
• Skin substitutes
• Epidermal grafting
• Noncontact low-frequency ultrasound
• Native collagen
• Oxidized regenerated cellulose silver

To benefit from exceptional wound care, call Mastracco Foot & Ankle or book an appointment online today.