Wounds and wound prevention in the feet

Managing foot wounds in the decompensated patient.

One of the greatest challenges in foot care is wound prevention and wound management.  Wounds come in all shapes and sizes, but there’s always one common denominator in wound care; a decompensated patient.  What is a decompensated patient?  A decompensated patient is one who has one or more factors that compromise the ability of healing.  Here is a partial list of health issues that may contribute to what we call the decompensated patient:

•        Poor circulation
•        Diabetes and diabetic neuropathy
•        Kidney disease
•        Neuropathy from chemical exposure or chronic alcohol consumption
•        Neuropathy secondary to chemotherapy
•        Orthopedic deformities – prominent bones and irregularly shapes feet

The sad irony of these health comorbidities, is that all of us tend to become decompensated over time leading to wounds and bone infections.  Classically, these wounds and bone infections are found in the forefoot (90 percent), in the midfoot (5 percent) and in the rearfoot 5 percent). 1,2

Myfootshop.com focuses on helping consumers have direct access to the knowledge and medical supplies used by health care providers who specialize in lower extremity wounds and infections.  Knowing that the vast majority of foot wounds are forefoot wounds, we offer a number of different pads and cushions to treat foot wounds and infections.

Pads for foot woounds and infections

Corn pads

Hammer toe pads

Toe caps and bandages

Toe separators

Toe straighteners and splints

Bunion pads

Ball-of-foot pads

Metatarsal pads

Seeking help for foot wounds and infections

Before you use our products, be sure to use our foot and ankle knowledge base to research to topic that you’re treating.  And in severe cases, be sure to contact your podiatrist for additional information and care.

1.        Lew DP, Waldvogel FA Osteomyelitis. Lancet 2004;364(9431):369-379.
2.        Karchmer AW, Gibbons GW.  Foot infections in diabetes: Evaluation and management.  Curr Clin Top Infect Dis. 1994:14:1-22.

Jeff

Jeffrey A. Oster, DPM

Medical Adviser
Myfootshop.com

Helpful Products

Arch Binder

The Arch Binder is an elastic bandage that slips over the mid-foot and is worn around the arch with or without shoes, offering compression, arch support, and pain relief. By PediFix. Universal right/left. 1/pkg.

As low as $8.46!

Calf Wedge Stretching Block

Our Calf Wedge Stretching Block is a simple, affordable foam device that makes stretching tight calf muscles easy. Used to treat plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendonitis. Proper calf stretching instructions included. By Myfootshop.com. 1/pkg.

As low as $11.01!

Arch Binder with Metatarsal Pad

The Arch Binder with Metatarsal Pad is an elastic forefoot compression sleeve worn around the arch, relieving forefoot, arch, and metatarsal pain. The additional support pad also eases Morton's neuroma, capsulitis, and metatarsalgia. By PediFix. Universal right/left. 1/pkg.

As low as $16.10!