Wound Care Specialist

What is wound care?

Wound care diagnoses, treats, and prevents cuts, puncture wounds, and other breaks in the skin. It combines various treatment techniques, including cleaning, debridement, topical ointments, and wound dressings to relieve pain, prevent infection from spreading, and encourage your body’s natural healing process.

If you experience a mild wound, like a small cut, clean it, apply an antibiotic ointment, and cover it with a bandage. If you experience a more serious injury, like stepping on a nail, contact Dr. La Fontant right away.

What are some common issues that can benefit from wound care?

Dr. La Fontant uses wound care to treat various issues, including:

• Puncture wounds
• Diabetic ulcers
• Cuts and scrapes
• Venous stasis ulcers
• Warts that are bleeding or damaged
• Ingrown toenails

You might also benefit from wound care if you injure your foot while working or playing sports and the bleeding won’t stop.

What does a wound care appointment involve?

A wound care appointment begins with a discussion of your symptoms and a review of your health history. Dr. La Fontant asks about how the wound occurred, when you first noticed it, and if you’ve tried any methods of at-home care.

Next, Dr. La Fontant carefully examines the wound. Visual observation is usually enough to develop a treatment plan, but if Dr. La Fontant suspects an infection or a more serious underlying issue, he might also order blood work or diagnostic imaging like X-rays, a CT scan, or an MRI.

After Dr. La Fontant gathers all of the necessary information, he cleans, debrides, and dresses your wound on-site. To ensure your comfort throughout the entire process, he administers a local anesthetic beforehand. 

Do I need to take care of my wound at home?

Yes. After your wound care appointment, Dr. La Fontant sends you home with care and recovery instructions. Typically, that involves:

• Keeping the wound clean and bandaged
• Washing the wound daily and changing the dressing
• Avoid walking barefoot
• Take any medications as prescribed

If your wound is due to diabetes, it’s also important to monitor your blood sugar daily, eat a balanced diet, and exercise regularly.  

To receive professional wound care, make an appointment at the Foot and Ankle Institute of Iowa by calling the office today or clicking the online booking feature.