Chronic wounds become stagnant through the normal phases of wound healing and often enter a vicious cycle including numerous comorbidities, mixed etiologies, and intrinsic and extrinsic factors. In this useful guide, health care professionals will gain an understanding of the categories of chronic wounds and will learn ways to prevent, assess, and manage these types of chronic wounds.

Chronic wounds are a significant and rising problem for clinicians. In this presentation, participants will learn the difference between an acute and chronic wound and review the DIME model. Different dressing choices will be reviewed and evaluated for most appropriate use and cost effectiveness. Presented by Kara S. Couch, MS, CRNP, CWS.

Download A Fact A Day – Chronic Wound Care and share it within your facility. This two-page fact sheet was created to support staff education on the prevention and treatment of chronic wounds. The print-friendly format is perfect for posting on the bulletin board or distributing to your nursing staff at in-service.

How much do you know about chronic wound assessment and management? Take our 10-question quiz to find out!

Chronic wound: Any wound failing to heal in 90 days.

Periwound: The periwound is the tissue surrounding the wound itself, limiting to 4cm. This tissue provides a barrier to the wound.

Undermining: Presents as a space between intact skin and the wound bed, resulting from shearing forces and sustained pressure.

The Whole Patient Approach: Addressing Common Comorbidities That Affect Wound Healing

When developing the plan of care for the patient with a chronic wound, it is imperative first to look at the “whole” patient and not just the “hole” in the patient. As we do, we are able to review any medical conditions or disease states that may affect wound repair and healing. Millions of Americans are affected by chronic wounds each year. These wounds include causes such as diabetic foot ulcers, venous leg ulcers, arterial insufficiency, and pressure ulcers.

Chronic Wound Management: Optimizing the Wound Healing Environment

Chronic wounds are any types of wounds that have failed to heal in 90 days. Identifying the cause of a chronic wound is most important in the healing process. We as clinicians must help bolster advanced wound care by sharing advances in education in evidence-based treatment, prevention, and wound assessment.

The Surrounding Area: Protecting Periwound Skin in Chronic Wounds

The periwound is as important as the wound. As clinicians, we should carefully assess the wound bed, but we need to remember also to assess the periwound and surrounding skin. The periwound should be considered the 4cm of surrounding skin extending from the wound bed. Chronic wounds may manifest any of the following characteristics, depending on wound type: erythema, induration, epibole, ecchymosis, hyperkeratosis, and changes in shape.

Complications in Chronic Wound Healing and Associated Interventions

Chronic non-healing wounds affect millions of patients each year and contribute significantly to their morbidity and mortality. These wounds have a substantial impact because of their economic burden and the significant effect on the reduction in quality of life, as well as the increased risk of death for those patients affected by them.