Chronic wounds don’t just hurt; they can threaten your mobility and even your limbs if left untreated. In fact, there are over 150,000 non-traumatic amputations each year. Most of these are due to the complications of diabetes and peripheral neuropathy.
While the statistic may be alarming, it’s important to focus on the impact that proper wound care can make. Getting timely wound care can help reduce your risk of infections, gangrene, and even amputations.
At Pascack Valley Wound Care Center in Westwood, New Jersey, board-certified general surgeon Dr. Mikhail A. Botvinov provides advanced wound care every Thursday. He helps heal wounds that have resisted traditional treatments for months or even years with the most advanced wound care techniques.
Read on to learn more about the three innovative wound care techniques to prevent limb loss, courtesy of the Bergen Bariatric and Surgical Solutions team.
Standard wound care often involves medications — both oral and topical — along with compression or specialized dressings to protect your wound and promote healing. These foundational treatments are non-negotiable for proper wound management.
Advanced therapies, like hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) and other cutting-edge approaches, take healing a step further by addressing wounds that haven’t responded to conventional care.
Our center uses cutting-edge therapies to target complex wounds. Depending on the type of wound you have and the severity of it, Dr. Botvinov may recommend:
Your body uses oxygen in the wound healing process, but if you have poor circulation (from PAD, for example), your wounds may not get the oxygen they need to fully heal.
That’s where hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) comes into the picture. It can deliver 100% oxygen at higher-than-normal levels — at 2-3 times the normal atmospheric pressure — to speed tissue repair and improve healing outcomes.
For wounds that don’t respond to standard care, surgical approaches — such as debridement or skin grafting — can remove damaged tissue, prevent infection, and promote proper healing.
Skin grafts cover damaged areas with healthy tissue, and they can help prevent limb loss because they offer a protective covering for severe wounds that are unable to heal on their own.
When Dr. Botvinov covers large wounds from trauma or burns with a skin graft, it helps to prevent dehydration, control infection, and promote proper healing, all of which can save your limb from amputation.
In addition to standard compression and bandaging, our team may use advanced dressings or topical medications that optimize moisture balance, fight infection, and accelerate tissue regeneration.
For example, we might apply a hydrocolloid dressing infused with antimicrobial agents to keep your wound moist while preventing bacterial growth.
You don’t have to choose just one technique. In fact, combining traditional and advanced techniques helps maximize recovery and minimize complications, including the risk of limb loss.
We manage a wide range of acute and chronic wounds, including:
Whether you’ve just spotted the signs of an ulcer or you’ve been battling one, don’t brush it off any longer. Dr. Botvinov can determine the type of wound you have and recommend a treatment plan to help save your limbs.
Take the first step toward wound management today. Schedule an appointment online to see how our specialized wound care can help treat your wound and prevent limb loss.
You can reach the wound care center at (201) 781-1530.
