WOUND CARE
Wound care refers to managing and treating injuries or wounds to promote healing, prevent infections, and minimize complications.
In addition to educational courses on treatments, our WCE Specialty team teaches comprehensive wound analysis using techniques like near-infrared imaging and bacterial DNA probe testing. They provide you with continuing education programs and information on the proper use and maintenance of all medical supplies and equipment for wound care.
WCE Specialty provides wound care services for patients in hospitals, nursing homes, and extended care facilities throughout southern Nevada.
They also go to outpatient wound centers and clinics in the area, including Mountainview Wound Care and Hyperbaric Center, Southwest Medical Wound Center, and St. Rose Wound Care and Hyperbaric Center at the San Martin Campus.
You should seek medical attention for your wound if:
- Your wound is deep, large, or jagged.
- Your wound shows signs of infection, such as increasing redness, warmth, or pus.
- A dirty or rusty object caused your wound.
- Your wound is on the face, near the eyes, or involves a joint.
- There is excessive bleeding that doesn’t stop with pressure.
- You are uncertain about the need for stitches or wound closure.
Note that the earlier you seek medical help, the more chances you have of fast healing and optimal recovery.
The team at WCE Specialty is dedicated to staying current on research in wound care. We have led many clinical research studies on progressive treatments for wound healing, including:
- Negative Pressure Wound Therapy
- Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) uses a vacuum device to draw out excess fluid and infection from a wound to help it heal. Dr. Wahab is involved in researching and developing a disposable NPWT device that reduces cost and improves patient compliance.
- Stem Cells
- Stem cells facilitate wound healing even in patients who don’t experience improvement from NPWT treatment. Dr. Wahab led multiple clinical research studies on plant-based stem cell nanotechnology for wound healing.
COMPREHENSIVE WOUND ANALYSIS
Comprehensive wound analysis is typically performed by healthcare professionals experienced in wound care, such as nurses, specialists, or physicians. These professionals have the expertise to assess wounds accurately and design appropriate treatment plans.
At WCE Specialty, we believe that medicine is a team sport, so we work with a multidisciplinary team from different specialties to give you the best wound care.
Our procedure is simple: your primary doctor will ask us to participate in your care. We will then see and evaluate you. We provide our findings and recommendations to your primary doctor. Together, we then consider all aspects of your health to design a healing regimen that is right for you.
Comprehensive wound analysis is crucial because it provides vital information about your wound’s status, helping us identify barriers to healing and choice of wound care interventions.
It also allows healthcare providers to address your specific needs before your wound becomes a serious medical concern. Chronic non-healing wounds may worsen without proper treatment, so a thorough wound assessment and early individualized care are essential.
Each assessment is tailored to your particular needs and may include:
- Ultrasound
- Transcutaneous oximetry
- Microbial cultures
- Bacterial DNA probe testing
- Nutrition assessment
- Diabetic screening
- Near-infrared imaging
- Microbial imaging
- SnapshotNIR tissue oxygenation imaging
Our team at WCE Specialty in Las Vegas is committed to innovative techniques to provide the best wound care possible. Our approach includes bacterial DNA probe testing, near-infrared imaging, and bacterial fluorescence imaging to help diagnose and identify the underlying causes of your wound. Here are some details about these three advanced tests:
- Bacterial DNA Probe Testing
- This test helps identify the bacteria in the wound and determines if the bacteria causing the infection are resistant to certain antibiotics. Results may be obtained more quickly than with conventional cultures.
- Near-Infrared Imaging
- This non-invasive procedure involves painlessly sending light energy through your skin, which helps determine if you have issues with blood flow, and, if so, at what location. Dr. Wahab and her team use the most advanced technology in tissue oxygenation testing, including the SnapshotNIR system by Kent Imaging.
- Bacterial fluorescence imaging
- This technique uses a handheld device that emits light at a particular wavelength to excite bacterial fluorescence, causing the bacteria to turn bright. This helps guide debridement and topical treatment.
BIOPSY
Biopsies provide valuable information about the underlying cause of your wound. They help identify specific conditions, including the following:
- Infections
- Cancerous growths
- Autoimmune disorders
- Vascular diseases
Biopsy results provide insights into your wound’s cellular and molecular composition, which can guide our treatment decisions, and enable us to develop targeted treatment plans tailored to your specific condition.
Biopsy also helps us detect the presence of abnormal cells or tissues, which helps us to design specialized therapies like chemotherapy or radiation.
In addition, biopsies contribute to investigating the underlying mechanisms of wound healing, identifying potential therapeutic targets, and evaluating the efficacy of new interventions.
DIABETIC WOUNDS
Common symptoms of diabetic wounds may include:
- Drainage on your socks
- Redness
- Swelling
- Heat
- Loss of function
- Numbness (a sign of nerve damage)
- Foul odor
- Dryness and cracking of the skin of your feet
Diabetic wounds are usually a result of poorly managed diabetes and a combination of factors, which may include:
- High blood sugar (hyperglycemia)
- Nerve damage
- Poor circulation to the feet
- Pressure
- Trauma
The nerve damage due to diabetes limits your ability to sense when your feet have been injured. It also damages your autonomic nerves, which regulate your glands and, thus, your skin’s moisture. Your skin may become dry and cracked, which provides easy entry for bacteria, resulting in an infection that leads to your wound.
Diabetic wounds are a concern because they can lead to severe complications if not properly managed. They are slow to heal due to your impaired blood flow and compromised immune function. This increases the risk of infection, gangrene, and even the need for amputation.
The management of diabetic wounds involves a multidisciplinary approach and may include the following:
- Appropriate cleansing and dressing
- Offloading with custom footwear
- Antimicrobial therapy
- Topical oxygen therapy
- Wound debridement to remove dead or infected tissue
- Antibiotics if an infection is present or at risk of developing
- Vascular evaluation to identify and manage circulation problems
- Patient education on diabetic foot care and wound self-monitoring
Additionally, we perform a comprehensive diabetic evaluation to optimize your wound healing. This includes nutrition, glycemic control, exercise, and proper foot care.
SURGICAL WOUNDS
Surgical wounds are wounds that result from surgical procedures and may be classified in:
- Open Wounds: This is when the wound is left open during surgery to promote drainage and healing from the inside out. These wounds require regular dressing changes and monitoring until they close naturally.
- Closed Wounds: In most surgeries, the incision is closed with sutures, staples, adhesive strips, or surgical glue. Closed wounds typically heal by primary intention, where the wound edges are brought together, reducing healing time and scarring.
The time it takes for a surgical wound to heal varies depending on the type of surgery, your overall health, and your wound care practices. Closed surgical wounds generally heal within two to three weeks, while open wounds may take several weeks or longer to close completely.
About 1% to 3% of surgeries result in a surgical site infection. Certain factors may increase your risk for a surgical wound infection, including:
- Smoking
- Being overweight
- Having diabetes
- Having a weakened immune system
Older adults are also more likely to get a surgical wound infection. Some types of surgeries carry more risk of infection than others, such as emergency surgeries and abdominal procedures.
It’s essential to carefully monitor a surgical incision to ensure it heals correctly. Infections can affect the skin as well as the tissues beneath the skin. Signs and symptoms of a surgical site infection include:
- Delayed healing
- Swelling and warmth
- The presence of pus and/or a foul smell
- Increased pain and redness or fever
An infected surgical wound may look like it’s dried out or deeper than it should be. If you have an infected surgical wound, notify your doctor immediately. Infected surgical wounds require prompt medical care.
Treatment for infected surgical wounds typically involves a combination of approaches to address the infection and promote wound healing. The specific treatment plan will depend on the severity of the infection and your overall health.
The experts at WCE Specialty stay on the cutting edge of advanced wound healing. They apply comprehensive wound analysis and use research-based treatments, such as negative pressure wound therapy and stem cells, to prevent surgical wounds from resulting in amputation.
In addition, they provide wound care consultations and treatments for patients as well as educational programs for health care providers.
PRIMARY CARE
Primary care providers are skilled in providing basic wound care, and can:
- Clean and dress wounds.
- Remove non-viable tissue.
- Apply topical medications.
- Manage complications such as infection or excessive bleeding.
Our primary care providers at WCE Specialty facilitate your healing process and prevent potential complications by initiating prompt and appropriate wound care.
We also provide you with education about your condition and the importance of early intervention, empowering you to take an active role in your wound care.
The time it takes for a surgical wound to heal varies depending on the type of surgery, your overall health, and your wound care practices. Closed surgical wounds generally heal within two to three weeks, while open wounds may take several weeks or longer to close completely.
About 1% to 3% of surgeries result in a surgical site infection. Certain factors may increase your risk for a surgical wound infection, including:
- Smoking
- Being overweight
- Having diabetes
- Having a weakened immune system
Older adults are also more likely to get a surgical wound infection. Some types of surgeries carry more risk of infection than others, such as emergency surgeries and abdominal procedures.
It’s essential to carefully monitor a surgical incision to ensure it heals correctly. Infections can affect the skin as well as the tissues beneath the skin. Signs and symptoms of a surgical site infection include:
- Delayed healing
- Swelling and warmth
- The presence of pus and/or a foul smell
- Increased pain and redness or fever
An infected surgical wound may look like it’s dried out or deeper than it should be. If you have an infected surgical wound, notify your doctor immediately. Infected surgical wounds require prompt medical care.
Treatment for infected surgical wounds typically involves a combination of approaches to address the infection and promote wound healing. The specific treatment plan will depend on the severity of the infection and your overall health.
The experts at WCE Specialty stay on the cutting edge of advanced wound healing. They apply comprehensive wound analysis and use research-based treatments, such as negative pressure wound therapy and stem cells, to prevent surgical wounds from resulting in amputation.
In addition, they provide wound care consultations and treatments for patients as well as educational programs for health care providers.
DERMATOLOGY
Dermatology helps with diagnosing and managing wounds that affect your skin, assessing wound severity, identifying underlying causes, and providing specialized wound management techniques.
Dermatologists can treat a wide range of wounds, including surgical, traumatic, infected, chronic wounds, and wounds associated with skin conditions like psoriasis or vasculitis.
Through physical examination, medical history review, and sometimes imaging or laboratory tests to check wound characteristics, such as size, depth, presence of infection, and underlying tissue involvement.
CLINICAL SKINCARE
Clinical skincare products should generally not be used directly on open wounds without specific guidance from your healthcare professional. Open wounds require specialized dressings or treatment tailored to your wound’s needs.
Clinical skincare products used in wound care include:
- Moisturizers
- Barrier creams
- Wound healing ointments
- Scar management products (e.g., silicone gels)
Yes, you should consult with your dermatologist or wound care specialist before using clinical skincare products. Our team at WCE Specialty can assess your specific wound and skin condition, provide personalized recommendations, and ensure the products are appropriate for your needs.
SKIN ULCERS
Our team at WCE Specialty manages many types of skin ulcers, including:
- Arterial ulcers – Arterial ulcers occur due to problems with blood flow to the tissue. They are usually deep, painful wounds with a punched-out appearance.
- Venous ulcers – Venous insufficiency is due to damage to your veins, leading to leaky and ineffective blood flow to the heart. If you have venous ulcers, you may experience a sensation of heaviness in your legs and notice skin color changes.
- Pressure ulcers – Also called bedsores, these ulcers may develop due to prolonged pressure on the skin. Signs of a pressure ulcer include swelling, tenderness, and changes in the skin’s color or texture. These patients may be mobility-impaired or bedbound. Patients who spend significant time at a hospital or other facility are also at risk.
- Neuropathic skin ulcers – These ulcers are due to nerve damage (neuropathy), which causes a lack of sensation, predisposing to trauma that may go unnoticed. If you have diabetes, you may be at more risk of neuropathy.
- Non-healing surgical wounds – There is always a risk of poor healing with any surgical intervention. This includes surgical wounds where the closure falls apart, and infection may ensue.
Treatment for skin ulcers depends on their underlying cause and severity. The main goals of any treatment is to promote healing, prevent infection, and reduce the risk of complications. Some common approaches include:
- Wound Debridement: Removing dead or infected tissue from your ulcer to facilitate healing.
- Dressings: Applying appropriate wound dressings to protect your wound, manage discharge, and promote a moist wound-healing environment.
- Offloading: Reducing pressure on the ulcer site prevents further damage and promotes healing.
- Infection Control: Treating any infection present with antibiotics or other antimicrobial agents.
- Compression Therapy: Using compression bandages or stockings improves blood flow and reduces swelling for venous ulcers.
- Vascular Evaluation: Assessing blood flow to the affected area and addressing underlying vascular issues.
- Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT): For certain non-healing ulcers, HBOT may improve tissue oxygenation and promote healing.
- Pain Management: Addressing pain associated with the ulcer to improve your comfort and adherence to the treatment plan.
It’s essential to seek medical attention promptly if you notice any skin ulcer that is not healing, becomes red, swollen, warm, or painful, or shows signs of infection such as pus or foul-smelling discharge. Early intervention can prevent complications and improve healing outcomes.
SKIN GRAFT
You may need a skin graft if an illness or injury caused you to lose a section of skin. Your skin is your body’s first line of defense against bacteria and other pathogens, so it’s essential to replace a section that can’t protect you adequately.
Skin grafts are used in various medical scenarios, including:
- Treating burns, especially large or deep burns.
- Repairing skin loss due to traumatic injuries or accidents.
- Healing chronic non-healing wounds, such as diabetic foot ulcers.
- Reconstructing areas after surgical removal of tumors or skin lesions.
- Infections.
WCE Specialty experts take a progressive, research-centered approach to managing skin grafts for all types of wounds.
There are two main types of skin grafts:
- Split-Thickness Skin Graft: Includes the top layers of the skin (epidermis and part of the dermis) and is commonly used for large wounds or burns.
- Full-Thickness Skin Graft: Includes the entire skin thickness (epidermis and dermis) and is typically used for areas with delicate structures, such as the face or hands.
The healing time for a skin graft varies depending on the type of graft, its size, and your overall health, but generally, it may take several weeks for the graft to integrate and heal fully.
STEM CELLS
Stem cells are immature cells that have the ability to mature into other kinds of cells. They migrate to where they’re needed via cell-to-cell signaling and change into the cell your body needs to heal your wound.
This unique ability makes stem cell-based therapy an innovative and sustainable approach to healing wounds that resist other forms of treatment. It is also safe and effective for delicate tissues and patients with multiple health concerns, such as malnutrition. Additionally, stem cells help to remove bacteria and debris from the wound and reduce swelling.
Stem cells may come from various places – from your body tissues, including fat and bone marrow, or from a donor or even plants.
Our WCE Specialty team has extensively researched plant-based stem cells as a treatment for non-healing wounds. They used stem cells from green tea to develop a 100% bio-sustainable and biodegradable membrane, which covers the wound and allows stem cells to enter your body. Then, the plant stem cells signal your own cells to stimulate healing.
One of the team at WCE Specialty – Dr. Wahab – has published several clinical research studies about using plant stem cells from green tea. In one of her studies, six patients with chronic and long-lasting wounds experienced significant improvement within seven weeks. Five of those six patients achieved complete wound closure. All of them had previously tried negative pressure wound therapy for two weeks without improvement.
At WCE Specialty, we use stem cells to treat a variety of wounds, including:
- Chronic non-healing wounds
- Non-healing amputations
- Diabetic wounds and ulcers
ENDOCRINOLOGY
Endocrinology manages underlying endocrine disorders, such as diabetes or hormonal imbalances, which can significantly impact your wound healing. Endocrinologists optimize hormonal balance and metabolic parameters to support your healing process.
Endocrinology manages underlying endocrine disorders, such as diabetes or hormonal imbalances, which can significantly impact your wound healing. Endocrinologists optimize hormonal balance and metabolic parameters to support your healing process.
Yes, hormonal imbalances can affect wound healing, as hormones play a vital role in your body’s healing processes. Hormonal imbalance can impair wound healing. Our team of endocrinologists at WCE Specialty can assess and manage these imbalances to promote better wound healing.
Endocrinologists often collaborate with other healthcare professionals, including primary care physicians, wound care specialists, vascular surgeons, or nutritionists. We coordinate care, share information, and ensure comprehensive wound care management, addressing both endocrine-related factors and wound-specific needs.
PODIATRY
Podiatry is a branch of medicine that focuses on diagnosing, treating, and preventing conditions related to the foot, ankle, and lower extremities.
Podiatrists specialize in managing foot-related wounds, providing treatments and interventions to promote healing and prevent complications.
Podiatrists can treat various foot and ankle wounds, including:
- Traumatic wounds
- Diabetic foot ulcers
- Pressure ulcers
- Venous ulcers
- Surgical wounds
- Wounds associated with skin conditions or infections
Podiatrists are exceptionally skilled in managing diabetic foot ulcers. Our team of podiatrists at WCE Specialty can assess your ulcer, provide appropriate wound care, perform debridement when necessary, offload pressure from the affected area, and collaborate with other healthcare professionals to optimize your blood sugar control to prevent further complications.
CLINICAL RESEARCH STUDIES
Clinical research is the primary way to test and evaluate new therapies for wound healing and other tissue regenerative processes, offering hope for many patients and an opportunity for researchers to find better treatments in the future.
There are many different types of research that we perform in our clinic, but we focus on wound healing, specifically diabetic foot ulcers, venous ulcers, post-surgical wounds, and pressure wounds.
We have access to clinical research studies that use:
- Skin grafts
- Medical devices
- Durable medical equipment testing (DME)
- Topical therapies
- Injectable therapies
- Imaging technologies
Yes! Many patients do not see the desired results with conventional therapy and are forced to suffer from wounds for months or even years. Enrolling in a clinical trial may provide ultramodern treatment and accelerate your healing.
WCE Specialty participates in a rich portfolio of diabetic clinical trials. If you have a diabetic wound and are interested in participating in a clinical trial, please contact our office.
OSTOMY
Colostomy: In a colostomy, a portion of your colon (large intestine) is brought to the surface of your abdomen to create a stoma, which is an opening. This allows feces to exit your body through a pouch attached to the stoma. This typically happens when a portion of your colon needs to be bypassed or removed due to diseases like colorectal cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, or diverticulitis.
Ileostomy: An ileostomy is created when the ileum, the last part of your small intestine, is brought to the abdominal surface to form a stoma. It is used when your colon and rectum are removed or need to heal after surgery. An ileostomy allows liquid stool to be collected in an ostomy pouch.
Urostomy: A urostomy (also known as an ileal conduit or urinary diversion) is typically performed when your bladder cannot store or pass urine. The surgeon connects your ureters – which carry urine from your kidneys – to a section of your small intestine or ileum, creating a stoma through which your urine can flow into a collection pouch.
Ostomies can be temporary or permanent, depending on the underlying medical condition. Living with an ostomy – even for a short while – can present you with challenges, but you’ll find you can adapt successfully and maintain an active and fulfilling lifestyle with the help of support from healthcare professionals and ostomy support groups.
Ostomies can be temporary or permanent, depending on the underlying medical condition. Living with an ostomy – even for a short while – can present you with challenges, but you’ll find you can adapt successfully and maintain an active and fulfilling lifestyle with the help of support from healthcare professionals and ostomy support groups.
Ostomy post-care services are typically provided by a team of healthcare professionals, including ostomy nurses, wound care specialists, stoma therapists, and other medical experts with expertise in ostomy management. These professionals will offer personalized care and guidance to you.
Ostomy post-care services can include a range of support and assistance, including:
- Stoma Care: Education and guidance on cleaning, protecting, and caring for your stoma.
- Ostomy Product Selection: Help in selecting the right ostomy pouches, skin barriers, and accessories tailored to your needs.
- Education and Training: Instruction on changing ostomy pouches, managing complications, and maintaining overall stoma health.
- Psychosocial Support: Addressing the emotional and psychological aspects of living with an ostomy, offering counseling and support.
- Complication Management: Assistance with peristomal complications, like skin irritation, leakage, or infections.
- Supply Management: Guidance on obtaining and maintaining a steady supply of ostomy products.
INFECTIOUS DISEASE
Wound Care for Infectious Diseases focuses on diagnosing, treating, and preventing wound-related infections. It encompasses a range of measures to manage wounds that are infected or at risk of infection, and it is essential for promoting healing and preventing the spread of infectious agents through your body.
Any type of wound can become infected, whether surgical, traumatic, chronic, or acute. For example, a sandfly bite, a syphilis chancre, or chicken pox blister.
To ensure proper wound healing, wound care for infectious diseases addresses various infections, including bacterial, fungal, and viral.
Key components include infection control, wound debridement, appropriate dressing selection, antibiotic therapy, and vigilant monitoring. Infection control measures are crucial for preventing the spread of infections.
By managing and treating infected wounds, we prevent the systemic spread of infectious agents within your body. Proper infection control measures, including hand hygiene and wound isolation, also minimize the risk of transmission within healthcare settings.
You can follow wound care instructions provided by healthcare professionals, maintain good hygiene, adhere to prescribed treatments, and promptly report any signs of infection. A healthy lifestyle, proper nutrition, and avoiding activities that can cause injury help reduce the risk of wound-related infections while you have an infectious disease.