Chronic wounds might require comprehensive treatment by a physician and nurse with the support of a dietitian, physical therapist, occupational therapist, orthotist, and social worker. Not every wound needs the entire health care team involved at once. Doctors and nurses determine what diagnostic studies are necessary. Nutrition plays a vital role in the healing process. Therapists assess and recommend pressure relief devices for pressure ulcers.
Dieticians advise on blood sugar control to help heal diabetic wounds.
Wound care specialists can advise on advanced dressings and technologies available from growth factors and living skin equivalent grafts to vacuum assisted devices for wound closure and total contact casting. Surgical intervention may be needed to correct chronic wounds like bone deformities of a diabetic foot or distal bypass surgery in a non-healing vascular wound. When surgically corrected, wounds should be able to go on to normal healing. Obviously, amputations should be a last resort. They can be prevented Some diabetic wounds can be prevented with regular foot care visits to a podiatris.