Wound Care

Wound care can reduce your risk of infection and other more serious problems if you have diabetes or another condition that affects blood flow to your feet. At Crossroads Podiatry in Newnan, Georgia, podiatrist Everett J. Mason III, DPM, offers comprehensive wound care to people of all ages. His years of training and wound care expertise ensure lasting and positive treatment outcomes. Call the office to request a wound care consultation today, or book an appointment online.

What is wound care?

Wound care is a podiatry subspecialty that diagnoses and treats diabetic ulcers and other slow-healing wounds on the legs, ankles, or feet.

If you have diabetes or another health problem that affects blood flow to your lower extremities, you’re also more likely to have nerve damage (neuropathy). 

When the nerves in your legs and feet don’t work properly, you can cut or injure yourself and not realize it.  Without treatment, open wounds may become infected, increasing your risk of gangrene and amputation. Wound care identifies ulcers in their early stages, and prevents them from worsening.

Who can benefit from wound care?

Request a wound care consultation at Crossroads Podiatry if you have any of the following symptoms:

• Hair loss on your lower legs and feet
• Diminished ability to feel sensations (e.g., hot and cold)
• Numbness
• Pain
• Tingling
• Any skin changes (e.g., a cut, blister, or sore)

Seek immediate care if you have an open wound on your foot or leg that’s red or oozing blood and pus. 

What happens during a wound care visit?

Dr. Mason reviews your health charts and asks about your wound, including when you first noticed it, what it feels like, and if you’ve tried any at-home treatments, like applying antibiotic ointment. 

Next, Dr. Mason examines your wound. He checks for signs of infection, such as swelling, redness, and discharge, and orders diagnostic imaging, including X-rays and MRIs to see how far the wound extends beneath your skin.

Dr. Mason collects a biopsy sample and sends it to a lab for testing. If your wound is infected, determining the underlying cause helps guide treatment.

What does wound care involve?

At Crossroads Podiatry, Dr. Mason develops personalized wound care treatment plans. He might recommend:

• Cleaning the wound
• Draining fluid or pus from the wound
• Removing dead or infected tissue (debridement)
• Applying special bandages or ointments to promote healing
• Prescribing a wheelchair or crutches to take your weight off the wound
• Prescribing antibiotics to stop infection

If you have a severe infection or gangrene, hospitalization or surgery may be necessary.

Call Crossroads Podiatry to explore the benefits of wound care today, or book an appointment online.