EXPERT
Paul Flatley
Emergency Medicine Specialist
Dr. Paul Flatley practices Emergency Medicine in Phoenix, AZ. Dr. Flatley assesses patients who seek immediate medical attention at any time of day or night. Emergency Medicine Physicians are trained to efficiently work with each patient and situation no matter how acute or life-threatening. Dr. Flatley examines patients, determines means of testing, diagnoses conditions, and decides the best treatment methods.
30 years
Experience
Paul Flatley
- Phoenix, AZ
- Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine of Midwestern University
- Accepting new patients
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Slow healing above the knee amputee - can it be helped?
Hi there, Your question is hard to answer definitively without seeing it and every case is different. Also Im an ER doc with 20+ years, but not a vascular doc. However, just READ MORE
Hi there,
Your question is hard to answer definitively without seeing it and every case is different. Also Im an ER doc with 20+ years, but not a vascular doc.
However, just for a little reassurance. Most patients requiring an amputation outside of a traumatic event do so for vascular reasons. Guessing your wife has significant vascular disease which may be due to her heart and diabetes. As a result of poor blood flow to and from her legs, especially the furthest parts, she probably has had trouble healing wounds that you would expect to heal more quickly. She probably ended up with several wounds, infections, and admissions and finally someone said hey, she cant heal because her blood flow is so poor to her legs. So the idea is to amputate high enough that she now has adequate blood flow to heal after surgery and yet only take as much as you have to. Its an art!
So it sounds like she is healing slowly. She could really benefit from a “Wound care center” Should be part of a local health care center so call a couple close hospitals and simply ask for a wound care center. This is not rocket science! Her primary, her surgeon, and her admitting doctor (the hospitalist) should all be well aware and should also be able to refer you as well.
They do many specialty bandages and wound vacuums and sometimes hyperbaric chamber treatment. Lots of cool things and lots of it is directed at healing poorly vascularized wounds! You are far form alone and her problem is far from unique.
Some wounds never heal. Just inadequate blood flow or some other reason but its uncommon and you should feel confident that she will heel as well. Just dont be in a hurry because it can take months and partner with a wound care center. They will get you there.
Hope that helps.
Your question is hard to answer definitively without seeing it and every case is different. Also Im an ER doc with 20+ years, but not a vascular doc.
However, just for a little reassurance. Most patients requiring an amputation outside of a traumatic event do so for vascular reasons. Guessing your wife has significant vascular disease which may be due to her heart and diabetes. As a result of poor blood flow to and from her legs, especially the furthest parts, she probably has had trouble healing wounds that you would expect to heal more quickly. She probably ended up with several wounds, infections, and admissions and finally someone said hey, she cant heal because her blood flow is so poor to her legs. So the idea is to amputate high enough that she now has adequate blood flow to heal after surgery and yet only take as much as you have to. Its an art!
So it sounds like she is healing slowly. She could really benefit from a “Wound care center” Should be part of a local health care center so call a couple close hospitals and simply ask for a wound care center. This is not rocket science! Her primary, her surgeon, and her admitting doctor (the hospitalist) should all be well aware and should also be able to refer you as well.
They do many specialty bandages and wound vacuums and sometimes hyperbaric chamber treatment. Lots of cool things and lots of it is directed at healing poorly vascularized wounds! You are far form alone and her problem is far from unique.
Some wounds never heal. Just inadequate blood flow or some other reason but its uncommon and you should feel confident that she will heel as well. Just dont be in a hurry because it can take months and partner with a wound care center. They will get you there.
Hope that helps.
