Wound basics

Chronic Wounds are of long duration and in which healing is delayed or arrested.

Venous ulcers: Venous ulcers, which usually occur in the legs, account for about 70% to 90% of chronic wounds and mostly affect the elderly.
Arterial ulcers/ischemic ulcers: These are due to inadequate circulation of blood to the extremities such as the feet and hands. They tend to appear on the tips of toes and over bony areas but they can also appear around the heels and ankles, sides and plantar surface of the foot.
Diabetic ulcers: Diabetes causes neuropathy, which inhibits the perception of pain. Thus patients may not initially notice small wounds to legs and feet, and may therefore fail to prevent infection or repeated injury.
Pressure ulcers: Pressure ulcers (often called ‘bed sores’) usually occur in people with restricted mobility and are caused by restricted blood flow into the affected area (often the heels, shoulder blades, and the base of the spine and upper and rear pelvis).
Combination Ulcers: These are the result of a combination of underlying problems that cause wounding and make healing complicated.