Wound Care

Diabetic foot ulcers are serious: 1 in 5 diabetic foot ulcers result in amputation,1 and the life expectancy of diabetic patients following lower limb amputations is lower than many forms of cancer.2 Each year in the Edmonton area there are approximately 250 diabetes-related lower limb amputations.3

The good news is that most of these amputations are preventable. At the Edmonton Diabetes & High Risk Foot Clinic, we are committed to providing exceptional care of high risk feet and diabetes-related foot complications, with the ultimate goal of preventing amputations. Our patient-centered approach combines disciplines to create a comprehensive High Risk Foot Team.

Our Wound Care program is intended for patients with open wounds or high-risk feet, as determined by their primary care physician. (Practitioners: Refer to the Diabetes Foot Care Pathway for more information about determining whether your patient’s feet are at high risk.)

At each Wound Care visit, you will be seen by a specialist physician and a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) with specialty training in foot care and wound care.

When necessary, we will also arrange and coordinate referrals with specialists, including:

  • Vascular Surgery

  • Plastic Surgery

  • Orthopedic Surgery

  • Interventional Radiology

  • Infectious Diseases

  • Surgical Podiatry

  • Orthotist

  • Physiotherapy

  • Dietitian

  • Diabetes Nurse Educator

If you have an open wound below the knee and would like to be referred to our Wound Care program, speak to your physician about a referral. Wound Care consultations and follow-up visits are covered by Alberta Health.

If you do not have a primary care physician, but would like a consultation, please contact our office.

Once your wound has healed, we encourage patients to continue with our Preventative Foot Care program.

References:

1 - Cavanagh PR et al. Treatment for diabetic foot ulcers. Lancet 2005; 366(9498): 1725-35.

2 - Moulik PK et al. Amputation and Mortality in New-Onset Diabetic Foot Ulcers Stratified by Etiology. Diabetes Care 2003 Feb; 26(2): 491-494.

3 - Basiri R et al. Reduction in Diabetes-Related Major Amputation Rates After Implementation of a Multidisciplinary Model: An Evaluation in Alberta, Canada. Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association. 2019 Nov 1. doi: 10.7547/19-137. 

Our wound care team is a recognized Alberta Health Services High Risk Foot Clinic. For patients with open wounds of the lower legs or feet, our multidisciplinary wound care team will perform a thorough foot assessment and outline a management plan to get your wound healed as quickly as possible.