Knowing how to monitor a wound and when to seek medical attention is a crucial part of wound care. Many common wounds such as minor cuts and scrapes can be treated at home, while more intense wounds may require professional medical attention for proper healing. Complex and/or non healing wounds often include those caused or made worse by surgical incisions, direct trauma, an underlying disease, or infections.

Dr. Adam Angeles is a board certified plastic surgeon and wound specialist in Central Oregon with over 25 years of experience. His team at the Angeles Wound Care Institute ensures a personalized and comprehensive care plan to all new and returning patients. Get individualized treatment for diabetic wounds, ostomy wounds, radiation wounds, and more to protect your patient against infection and promote healing.  

Common Wound Complications that Require Medical Attention

The three most common wound complications that require care from a wound specialist are due to infections, dehiscence, and chronic nonhealing. Infections occur when pathogens or bacteria enter the wound and begin to multiply. Dehiscence occurs when previously approximated wound edges become partially or fully separated again. A chronic, non healing wound is one that hasn’t healed within the expected timeframe, typically over a month, and can have multiple causal factors.

Signs that You Need Treatment for a Wound Infection

Wounds can become infected when bacteria or pathogens enter the wound and begin to multiply inside of the skin. Immediately cleaning and dressing cuts can help prevent infection, but even small wounds are at risk for more serious infection and should be monitored carefully. Wound infections are especially common with cat and dog bites, deep punctures, injuries by dirty objects, or major surgeries or trauma. If you are experiencing any of the following symptoms, your wound likely requires medical attention:

• Redness spreading out from the wound
• Increased pain or swelling
• Difficulty moving the affected area

  

• Pus or odorous drainage
• Warmth around the wound
• Fever higher than 100.4 degrees
• Poor healing

Identifying Wound Dehiscence

Wound dehiscence typically occurs around a week after surgery or suturing when the healing is still in the early stages. Superficial dehiscence is when the wound edges separate, while evisceration is when the separation is complete and tissues or organs protrude through the wound. 

Signs of dehiscence include damage to sutures, increased bleeding or drainage at the wound site, and/or the visible separation or movement of the wound’s edges. Causes can be due to trauma, infection, ischemia, or non-obvious related health issues like obesity and malnutrition.

Treatment at the Angeles Wound Care Institute will depend on the extent of dehiscence and potentially include topical applications, debridement, binders, skin substitute application, surgery, and establishing long-term care protocols. 

Signs that you have a Chronic, Non Healing Wound

Chronic, non healing wounds are those that haven’t healed after the expected timeframe despite treatment. This could be a period anywhere from 4 to 12 weeks depending on the extent and cause of the wound. 

Common causes of non healing wounds include direct issues like infection and repeated trauma or underlying conditions including poor circulation, diabetes, cancer requiring radiation therapy, ulcers, or a weakened immune system. 

At Angeles Wound Care Institute, we specialize in identifying and addressing the underlying causes of non healing wounds and working with our patients and their providers to establish a treatment plan that will optimize long-term success. 

Most Common Types of Wounds that Require Specialized Wound Care

Diabetic Wounds

Diabetic ulcers are a common complication of diabetes and caused by a combination of poor blood circulation and nerve damage from high blood sugar levels. Diabetic ulcers can cause serious wounds that take longer to heal and are more prone to infection. These wounds can develop anywhere on the body but typically are found on the feet. Similar to common signs of infection, infected diabetic wounds are red, swollen, warm, have drainage or an unusual odor and require professional medical attention. 

Ostomy Wounds

Ostomy surgery creates an opening (stoma) in the abdomen to divert bodily waste. Since it is a medical procedure involving a surgical incision, healing from an ostomy wound can be a delicate procedure that necessitates clear protocols with a wound specialist. Ostomy wounds should be regularly monitored for the common signs of infections. More specifically, these wounds should be assessed by a medical professional if the patient notices skin irritation, recurrent leaks under the pouch system or skin barrier, or excessive bleeding of the stoma. 

Radiation Wounds

Though it is a common cancer treatment, radiation therapy can cause radiation wounds as a side effect. Also known as radiation dermatitis, these wounds typically look red, are irritated, blistering, and can manifest as ulcers. Seeking medical attention for radiation wounds can help patients improve their quality of life while undergoing treatment. Get in touch with us if your radiation wound is itchy, uncomfortable, dry, swollen, or drastically changing your skin color. 

What other types of wounds should I see a wound specialist for?

There are several other types of wounds that necessitate a professional’s treatment. These wounds should also be monitored for typical signs of infection. See a wound care specialist if you acquire any of the following wounds:

• Wounds on the face
• Wounds deep enough to see the bone or need stitches
• Animal or human bites
• Punctures or injuries from rusty objects
• If bleeding cannot be stopped after applying pressure for 10 minutes, call 911

Contact or refer wound patients to AWCI

Dr. Adam Angeles and his specialized team in Bend, Oregon are professionally trained and will work with you and your entire healthcare team to provide the best wound care. We treat patients from throughout the state of Oregon, including John Day, Burns, Klamath Falls, Newport, Lakeview, La Grande, and Pendleton.

If you or your patient is suffering from a wound, contact our team to help you find the care you need.