WOUND BLOG by Matthew Livingston RN

This is a partial list of unique types of wounds. Typically these wounds are identified after a wound has failed to heal over several weeks of standard wound care or if there is a rapid appearance and/or deterioration of the wound. It is important to seek the care of a wound care specialist for these types of wounds.

AUTOIMMUNE DISORDER ULCERS

Clinical disorders lead to abnormal coagulation that triggers a primary thrombus in normal blood vessels leading to red cell blood clots, causing soft tissue cell death and ulceration.

CALCIPHYLAXIS

Condition associated with high levels of calcium phosphate. This leads to calcification of the small arteries (at the tunica media of the vessel). This is associated with intimal fibrosis and thrombus formation.

HEMATOLOGICAL ABNORMALITIES

Abnormal blood components lead to non flowing red blood cells and trigger blood clots.

LYMPHATIC OBSTRUCTION/ LYMPHEDEMA

Caused by a condition called lymphedema which typically doesn’t cause ulcerations (usually caused by trauma to the extremity), but the condition can keep wounds from closing.

MALIGNANCIES OF THE SKIN

More commonly related to (but not limited to) squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, and melanoma.

NECROBIOSIS LIPOIDICA

Associated with diabetes, which leads to collagen degeneration related to inflammation.

PYODERMA GANGRENOSUM

Pyoderma gangrenosum is an uncommon noninfectious neutrophilic dermatosis that is of an unknown cause.

RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS ULCERS

Rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic autoimmune disorder of unknown etiology.

SCLERODERMA

Condition related to the occlusion of finger (digital) blood vessels related to excess collagen deposition inside the vessels

SICKLE CELL ULCERS

Related to the condition of sickle cell anemia. Unique sickle formed red blood cell clot and therefore, prevents appropriate capillary flow and tissue perfusion.

VASCULITIS/VASCULOPATHY

With vasculitis abnormal blood vessels activate a red blood cell clot.

WARFARIN (COUMADIN®) NECROSIS

Related to starting warfarin therapy. This condition is related to a protein C deficiency with anti-vitamin K anticoagulants leading to a hypercoagulable condition that results in a blood clot of skin (dermal) vessels.