Wound Care

Professional wound care provides a safe, effective way to manage diabetic ulcers and other foot and toe injuries. It helps reduce the risk of infection and encourages healing, so you can get back on your feet and return to your routine. At Step By Step Foot and Ankle Center, serving patients in West Covina, El Monte, Baldwin Park, Arcadia, Pasadena, and Duarte, California, experienced podiatrist and foot and ankle surgeon Artin Shakhbandaryan, DPM, provides high-quality wound care to adults. Call the nearest Step By Step Foot and Ankle Center office today to schedule a wound care appointment, or book your visit online.

What is wound care?

Wound care is a podiatry subspecialty that diagnoses and treats slow-healing ulcers and other foot and ankle injuries that break the skin. It uses advanced therapies and treatment techniques to speed up your body’s healing process and reduce the risk of infections and other complications.

Although wound care treats various foot and ankle injuries, it’s particularly beneficial for folks with diabetes and other medical conditions that affect circulation to the lower extremities. Partnering with a qualified wound care specialist like Dr. Shakhbandaryan can help prevent severe outcomes, like nerve damage, gangrene (tissue death), and amputation.

Should I see a podiatrist for wound care?

Schedule a wound care appointment at Step By Step Foot and Ankle Center if you have any of the following symptoms:

• Skin changes, like cuts, blisters, calluses, or sores
• A slow-healing wound on your feet, ankles, or toes
• Wounds that frequently bleed or ooze pus
• Skin discoloration
• Severe swelling
• Pain

Be sure to act quickly, even if the break in your skin is small. Open wounds on the lower extremities often grow quickly.

What happens during a wound care appointment?

At Step By Step Foot and Ankle Center, Dr. Shakhbandaryan tailors wound care to each person’s needs. Even so, most visits involve a similar approach.

Dr. Shakhbandaryan reviews your medical records and asks about your wound, including when you first noticed it, if it’s grown, and whether it affects your ability to stand and walk.

Next, he examines the wound, assessing its size, color, location, and border. Some wounds, like diabetic ulcers, can be diagnosed visually. However, Dr. Shakbandaryan might order additional tests, like a biopsy (skin sample) or X-rays to check for infection and to see if the wound extends beneath your skin.

What types of treatment does wound care provide?

At Step By Step Foot and Ankle Center, Dr. Shakhbandaryan takes a conservative, integrative approach to wound care. He could suggest:

• Cleaning the wound
• Draining fluid and pus from the wound
• Debridement, which removes dead skin and tissue from around the wound
• Applying special bandages to absorb excess fluid
• Applying prescription ointments to prevent infection and promote healing
• Prescribing crutches or another mobility device to take pressure off the wound
• Prescription antibiotics to prevent infection

If your wound is large and severely infected, surgery might be necessary. However, early diagnoses and treatment can significantly reduce this risk.

Call the nearest Step By Step Foot and Ankle Center office today to schedule professional wound care, or book your appointment online.