Treat the Whole Not Just the Hole: Holistic Wound Care Approach

Abstract

The key to successful wound care lies in the provider’s ability to accurately identify etiology of the wounds and recognize factors that may contribute to their chronicity. Some of the most commonly encountered and clinically significant barriers include macro- or micro-angiopathic diseases, infection, protein-energy malnutrition, smoking, and metabolic disorders. In this article, we evaluate a case of chronic non-healing wounds in a patient with hypothyroidism, Factor V Leiden mutation, and obstructive sleep apnea. Attention is drawn to the impact of these comorbid conditions on integrity and regeneration of soft tissues, both from pathophysiological and histological aspects.