Sioux Falls Wound Care Clinic Helps Patients Avoid Limb Loss
Patients with diabetes can face many challenges. Among the toughest is long-term effects to the extremities, especially the feet.
Careful care of the feet – including regular exams – are why Avera created a specialized clinic that focuses on helping diabetic patients with wound care, reconstructive surgery and amputation prevention. The Avera McKennan Wound Clinic at Avera McKennan Hospital & University Health Center is providing that care.
“Our diabetic patients often suffer from peripheral neuropathy and many also suffer from peripheral vascular disease,” said podiatrist Peter Bellezza, DPM, Avera Orthopedics Sioux Falls. “If they develop foot blisters, it might go unnoticed and get progressively worse due to poor healing potential.”
Unnoticed wounds get infected; those infections can continue uncontrolled due to diabetes. Then the infection can worsen.
“Our clinic brings a number of disciplines into the same space to help patients avoid the worst outcomes,” Bellezza said. “We use wound care, hyperbaric therapies, surgery and unique vascular surgery interventions as they are needed.”
Dangers of Diabetic Wounds That Won’t Heal
Diabetic patients often have underlying foot and ankle deformities. These problems make management of wounds more challenging. Limbs left unattended in the face of bacteria or fungus can create life-threatening sepsis. Patients who control their diabetes can prevent these conclusions.
Providers use long-term antibiotics and other approaches when infections happen. “We have a range of wound-care therapies,” Bellezza said. Wound vacuums, debridement, compression wrapping and hyperbaric therapy all are examples.
“When diabetic patients discover these infected extremity problems too late, the options are limited,” Bellezza added.
Each year in the United States, health providers perform about 73,000 lower-limb amputations. Of those not related to trauma, 60% are for diabetes patients.
Treatment to Save Limbs from Diabetic Infection
Offloading surgery is a method of saving limbs.
“Our treatment begins with conservative steps, but when needed, these surgeries can save limbs,” Bellezza said.
These surgical procedures often include reconstruction of underlying foot or ankle deformities. Other times, they might include a technique that releases the tendon adds to the tendon’s length.
“The body’s weight is more-uniformly spread to the ligaments, bones and tendons of the lower body when we do this,” said Bellezza. “Pressure is alleviated allowing wounds to heal.”
Foot and ankle specialists can guide the multifaceted treatment process.
“Save what can be saved,” he said. “It’s all about providing patients with options.”
Wound care experts team up with providers in vascular surgery, infectious disease, orthotics/prosthetics and hyperbaric medicine. Podiatrists join them, and together, they can turn the tide.
“Our role is to give people another chance,” Bellezza said
Learn about specialized diabetes care or podiatry care at Avera.
