With a recent increase in reported wounds, addressing barriers to wound healing has become crucial. A recent white paper on the Wound Balance concept identifies barriers such as local and systemic factors, misaligned patient goals, and challenges related to dressings. According to the paper, Patient Care Balance is achieved through a thorough patient-centered approach and is essential in the wound healing journey. Lower extremity wounds, often painful and highly exudative, present various challenges. Patient Balance requires consideration of functional status, social and economic factors, and individual goals. Ideally, patient challenges should be identified and managed through customized treatment plans and innovative practices.
This study presents a series of challenging cases involving highly exudative atypical lower extremity wounds, including chronic venous ulcerations, Graft vs Host disease, toe amputation, and delayed surgical healing of partial first ray resection. The author shares experiences of improved patient outcomes after switching protocols to an innovative superabsorbent polymer (SAP) dressing in a wound care practice and addressing additional barriers faced by patients with lower extremity wounds.
