Millions of people are living with chronic wounds in the United States, and the numbers are growing. Chronic wounds are more prevalent among the 30.3 million Americans diagnosed with diabetes, who have a 25 percent risk of developing a foot ulcer. Increased age, obesity, heart and vascular disease, cancer treatment and traumatic injury may also contribute to non-healing wounds.
Non-healing wounds require specialized care because underlying, complex conditions prevent the wound from going through the expected healing stages. The longer a chronic wound goes untreated, the greater your risk of infection, amputation and other complications.
Each year, about 80,000 adults with diabetes undergo a leg or foot amputation due to a non-healing wound, 80 percent of which started with an ulcer. Treating these ulcers early and with the most appropriate wound healing management is key to avoiding amputation.