Wound Care

The Wound Healing Center at UMMC Midtown Campus provides advanced therapies to treat non healing wounds and a range of other nonresponsive conditions.

Our team of wound specialists, who work in a wide range of medical fields, collaborate together to customize individual treatment plan to better address every patient's needs and improve healing outcomes. Our wound healing specialists not only care for the wounds, but also treat underlying medical or lifestyle factors that may have been contributing to their slow healing.

Non-healing wounds are those that have not begun to heal after two weeks, or those that are not completely healed in four weeks time. Many types of patients including diabetic, geriatric, post surgical and post trauma patients, can benefit from the advanced treatments and expertise offered by the Wound Healing Center.

Types of Wounds

Skin Ulcers

Skin ulcers are round open sores on the skin caused by poor blood circulation. Skin ulcer treatments may include advanced dressings and wraps, antibiotics, pain management, and in rare cases, surgery.

Venous Ulcer

Venous ulcers occur when leg veins don't properly return blood back to the heart because of poor blood circulation in the legs. They usually form on the sides of the lower leg, above the ankles and below the calves. If left untreated, it can lead to infection or even blood poisoning.

Pressure Ulcer

A pressure ulcer is also known as a bed sore, are areas of damaged skin caused by unrelieved pressure. Pressure ulcers usually form around the ankles, back, elbows, heels, and hips.

Diabetic Ulcer

A diabetic ulcer is a an open sore or wound that occurs people with diabetes, due to poor circulation, nerve damage, and high blood sugar.

Neuropathic Ulcer

A neuropathic ulcer is caused by repeated stress and pressure that diminishes sensation. These ulcers are typically seen in diabetes patients.

Arterial Ulcer

An arterial ulcer occurs when plaque builds up in the arteries reducing the amount of blood delivered to the body.

Other Wounds We Treat

• Gangrene- dead tissue caused by an infection or lack of blood flow
• Tissue and bone damage caused by radiation or infection
• Surgical wounds and post-op infections
• Skin irritations
• Osteoradionecrosis
• Bone infection (osteomyelitis)

Wound Treatment

At the Wound Healing Center, our goal is to not only to help our patients heal, but to prevent another nonhealing wound. Patients are active partners in their care, attending weekly appointments and learning how to care for their wound at home. Patients have access to health and wellness programs, nutritional assessment, diabetes education, patient counseling, and pain management.

Because complications from wounds can cause a whole host of other issues, we ensure that our patients have access to the expertise of physicians throughout University of Maryland, including those specializing in:

• Diabetes
• Limb Preservation
• Vascular

The Center offers the latest wound care technology along with traditional treatment options including:

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a method of administering highly concentrated oxygen to a patient that helps speed up the healing process.

Bioengineered Skin Substitutes

Bioengineered skin substitutes consist of an outer and/or inner layer of skin planted into a support structure that temporarily takes over the functions of the skin until it can heal.

Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT)

NPWT is a sealed wound dressing connected to a vacuum pump applies pressure to the wound and promotes healing in acute or chronic wounds and enhance healing of first and second-degree burns.

Debridement

Debridement is dead, damaged or infected tissue is removed in order to improve the healing potential of the remaining tissue.

Advanced Dressing and Wraps

Advanced dressing and wraps protect the wound from bacteria.

Causes of a Non Healing Wound

Although most wounds heal on their own, any wound has the potential to become a non-healing wound. Some people are more likely to develop a non-healing wound because of an underlying medical or lifestyle factor. These include:

• Diabetes
• Circulation problems, including peripheral arterial disease (PAD) or chronic venous insufficiency
• Blockage in the veins caused by a clot (vascular obstruction)
• Kidney failure
• High blood pressure (hypertension)
• Cardiovascular disease
• Sickle cell anemia
• Nutritional deficiency

Other risk factors for non-healing wounds include age, stress, tobacco use, alcohol use, obesity, and certain medications.

Diabetic Foot Care

People with diabetes tend to suffer from chronic, slow healing wounds that progress quickly. Although cuts, scrapes, and blisters can occur anywhere on the body, the feet are most common place injury occurs. That is why it is important to inspect your feet regularly and monitor wounds closely. Foot ulcers can become very serious if let untreated.

Elevated blood sugar that can lead to a number of complications that affect wound's healing process, including a common condition called peripheral neuropathy (nerve damage). This occurs when nerves and blood vessels, most often in the hands and feet, are damaged, causing little to no feeling in the affected area. This can mean that a person may not be aware when a wound develops, which leads to further injury and infection.

If you're having trouble keeping your blood sugar under control, it might be time to meet with one of our diabetes experts.

Contact Us

To ask a question, make an appointment, or refer a patient, please call 410-225-8600.

Learn more about our location and office for the Wound Healing Center.