Wound care
Wound care involves medical interventions to heal a wound after injury. Specialized treatment is provided for wounds that are nonhealing or refuse to heal on their own. A vital aspect of treatment includes learning how to properly dress and care for a wound.
Wound care in Kissimmee
Wound healing is an uneventful process for most people, but for some it can require specialized treatment. Our team is dedicated to treating wounds and helping you return to full health.
If you have these kinds of hard-to-heal wounds, we can help. Our Wound Healing Center is an outpatient department staffed by dedicated physicians and medical professionals. Our Certified Wound Care Registered Nurses and hyperbaric technicians work exclusively with wounds and are some of the area's most qualified individuals to treat wound-related issues.
Types of wounds we treat
Our wound care team diagnoses and treats the following:
- Arterial (ischemic) wounds (on the feet or anywhere the bones may protrude and rub against bed sheets, socks or shoes)
- Diabetic or neuropathic foot ulcers
- Minor burns (on the face or threatening loss of function to extremities)
- Pressure ulcers (bed sores)
- Radiation injuries
- Slow-healing surgical wounds
- Traumatic injury skin tears or wounds
- Venous insufficiency ulcers (located below the knee, commonly in patients with a history of leg swelling, varicose veins and deep vein thrombosis blood clots)
Our wound care treatments and services
Our wound care specialists are dedicated to ensuring patients heal successfully. We offer a range of wound care treatments, including hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT).
Treatments we offer
- Blood flow measurement/non-invasive vascular assessment — Assessment of oxygen flow to the wound
- Blood glucose monitoring — Adjustments in medications or diet to achieve optimal blood sugar control (high blood sugar weakens the immune system)
- Compression therapy — Utilizing specialized socks or stockings to increase circulation
- Debridement — Removal of dead or non-viable tissue
- Dressings — Used to speed up the healing of non-healing diabetic foot ulcers
- Growth factor therapy — Topical gels that promote wound healing
- Off-loading techniques: Removing weight from the foot to prevent and heal ulcers
- Wound cultures to assess for infection: Tests for bacteria or fungus that causes infection
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT)
In addition to our other treatments, we offer HBOT—a specialized treatment that allows patients to breathe 100 percent pure oxygen inside a pressurized chamber. Breathing the oxygen under pressure helps deliver high concentrations of oxygen to the body’s tissues.
HBOT is beneficial for a wide range of conditions, including:
- Air or gas embolisms
- Acute peripheral arterial ulcer
- Chronic osteomyelitis
- Compromised flaps or grafts
- Gangrene
- Osteoradionecrosis
- Soft tissue radionecrosis
- Compromised flaps or grafts
- Necrotizing infections
- Crush/traumatic injuries
- Diabetic wounds
Benefits of oxygen therapy
HBOT provides a variety of benefits, including:
- Enhancing wound healing
- Helping fight infection
- Improving circulation to affected areas
- Promoting new blood vessel and tissue growth
Preparing for your hyperbaric chamber session
For safety reasons, there are certain items that are not allowed inside the hyperbaric chamber. Please do not wear or bring any of the following:
- Any alcohol- or petroleum-based products
- Hairspray, hair oil or gels, wigs or hairpieces
- Makeup, perfume, after shave or lotions
- Matches, lighters or flammable materials
- Watches, hearing aids or electronic devices
Notify our staff if:
- You come down with a cold, flu or respiratory infection
- There is any change in your medications
If you are diabetic, please eat properly and continue to follow your daily routines.
If you smoke, please refrain from smoking as much as possible during the your course of your therapy.
What to expect during your HBOT
Hyperbaric therapy is a painless treatment. You can expect the following during your hyperbaric session:
- You will prepare for the treatment by lying down on the special hyperbaric bed. We will provide you with water and a blanket. Staff members are always in attendance while the treatment is in progress.
- The chamber will be pressurized, similar to pressurizing the cabin of an airplane. Our staff will instruct you on the best ways to clear pressure in your ears.
- The initial pressurization will only take 5-7 minutes. The oxygen is then administered in two, 45-minute periods, for a total of 90 minutes of oxygen. The total time inside the chamber is usually just under two hours.
- During the treatment you will be able to watch television, listen to music, relax or even sleep.
- After the treatment is complete, we will depressurize the chamber slowly.
- There are no side effects that will keep you from your daily routine.
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