Medical experts at a national level conference on ‘wound healing’ held at a Chembur hospital on Saturday said, “don’t keep dressing a wound, but investigate the cause and then decide course of action.”
“To provide optimal benefits to our patients, well-known surgeons from across the country shared their experiences and knowledge on this platform. Wound management is usually teamwork of doctors, surgeons and plastic surgeons; they all need to work in tandem and hence such discussions help. Wound debridement was one of the focuses as it helps in the removal of necrotic tissue from a wound. This helps reduce pressure and stimulate wound healing,” said Dr Roy Patankar, Director, Zen Hospital, where the workshop was held.
Almost 15 per cent of diabetics develop an ulcer in their lifetime, and due to a lack of appropriate wound treatment, almost 85 per cent diabetics lead to amputations.
The workshop was attended by over 50 plastic surgeons, Interventional radiologists and experienced doctors from across the country.
“Surgeons or family physicians often encounter wounds of different etiologies on a daily basis. Treating wounds is a challenge as the physicians or surgeons needs to assess wounds accurately, recognize wound related problems and provide interventions such that its morbidity reduces. With advanced technology, newer wound care products are helping surgeons to provide optimal benefits to patients,” said Dr Madhuri Gore, surgeon and wound management expert at the hospital.
Dr Tushar Rege, diabetic foot surgeon at SL Raheja Hospital said because of neuropathy in foot of a diabetic person, patients too need to be educated and aware of the disease and should take proper and preventive measures such as maintaining skin’s moisture treat the wound properly before it catches infection. “I have got many patients who had uncontrolled diabetes for not following proper treatment and regime and got diabetic foot neuropathy. In some cases, we had to amputate legs too. Sadly, many of them are in productive age group,” said Rege.