Treatment for Decubitus Ulcers

A decubitus foot ulcer is a break in the skin or a deep sore

Decubitus foot ulcers are a common occurrence among diabetics. They can also be the result of minor scrapes, cuts that heal slowly, or from the rubbing of shoes that do not fit well.

Early intervention is important in treatment

Ask your doctor for advice on how to best care for your wound. Constant pressure against the skin reduces the blood supply to that area. The affected tissue dies and the area can become infected

A decubitus foot ulcer starts as reddened skin but gets progressively worse, forming a blister, then an open sore, and finally a crater. They are categorized by severity, from Stage I (earliest signs) to Stage IV (worst):

• Stage I: A reddened area on the skin that, when pressed, is "nonblanchable" (does not turn white). This indicates that a pressure ulcer is starting to develop.
• Stage II: The skin blisters or forms an open sore. The area around the sore may be red and irritated.
• Stage III: The skin breakdown now looks like a crater where there is damage to the tissue below the skin.
• Stage IV: The pressure ulcer has become so deep that there is damage to the muscle and bone, and sometimes tendons and joints.

Modern treatment uses a multidisciplinary team to address all the factors that contribute to healing including debridement (removal of dead tissue ), infection control, nutritional support, proper patient care and education, and wound intervention.

MYERS Medical Compounding Offers Solutions That Treat Multiple Symptoms

We compound several types of topical gels used to assist in the healing process that incorporate the following ingredients:

• Phenytoin is an oral anticonvulsant with a noted side effect of tissue hyperplasia which may be beneficial to tissue growth
• Misoprostol is an agent used orally to prevent gastric ulcer formation
• Lidocaine is a local anesthetic (numbing medication). It works by blocking nerve signals in your body. It is applied topically to numb the skin, or lessen pain.
• Metronidazole is an antibiotic especially effective on bacteria commonly found in decubitus ulcers