Mark Reed, DPM DABFAS

714-528-3668

Wound Care

Podiatrist Mark Reed, DPM has 30+ years of experience healing 3000+ Diabetic Ulcers and has a Wound Care Fellow of the American Professional Wound Care Association since 2001.  Dr. Mark Reed is Board Certified by the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery and completed his residency at University of California, San Francisco -- considered one of the top Podiatry Surgical and Wound Care Residency in the United States.  In addition, the Dr. Reed completed his podiatry medical school training at USC / LA Country Medical Center.  As Wound Care Specialist, the Foot Doctor emphasizes patient education and most appointments are scheduled for 30 minutes or longer to insure there is ample time for patient education as well as for questions to be answered. 

A TEAM APPROACH TO WOUND HEALING

If you are a Diabetic patient with a non-healing ulcer, a complete re-evaluation must occur.  The most significant factor to turning around non-healing wounds to healing wounds is a comprehensive examination to identify underlying causes that are interfering with wound healing. Many patients with chronic wounds have associated systemic medical conditions that include peripheral vascular disease, being immunocompromised, having anemia, nutritional deficiencies, diabetic control instability or incorrectly identified infecting bacteria.  Dr. Mark Reed has 30+ years of experience saving countless limbs and the lives of diabetic patients with severe bone infections that would have progressed to a life-threatening septicemia.  As part of a team approach, Dr. Reed works with a select team of local Specialists to resolve underlying non-healing wounds including Vascular Surgeons, Vein Specialists, Interventional Radiologists, Infectious Disease Specialists and Diabetologists.

UNDERSTANDING WOUND HEALING FACTORS

Dr. Reed utilizes a six factor wound healing protocol that insures Diabetic Ulcers are treated by a comprehensive medical standpoint combined with proven medical therapies that achieve wound closure.  Wound Care has evolved into a Specialty that is far beyond the typical primary care situation where a patient is given a prescription for antibiotics and Home Health Care is ordered to change a wound dressing. The six major medical factors that must be assessed in treating a patient with a acute or chronic wound are as follows:  
1. Diabetic Glucose Control.  
2. Large and Small Vessel Vascularity.  
3. A Healthy Healing Wound.  
4. Antibiotic Infection Control.  
5. Pressure Wound Control. 
6. Nutrition and Intermittent Fasting Diabetic Control.   

As to the assessment of the vascular integrity of the large and small vessels to the lower extremity, peripheral arterial disease (PAD) screening must be performed of pulses are weak or non-existent on examination.  If PAD is diagnosed, this medical limb-threatening medical condition must be resolved to heal any wound in the lower extremity through the intervention of a Vascular Surgeon or Interventional Radiologist.  As a patient with diabetes, 50% have undiagnosed peripheral arterial disease (PAD) that is the cause of their non-healing ulcers or wounds.   Dr. Reed performs Peripheral Vascular Disease in-office screenings on all patients as needed or refers the patient for a Arterial Doppler Examination. The results of the P.A.D. Screening test if positive is then referred for corrective intervention.  It you are in a HMO or being treated by a Primary Care Physician with a diabetic ulcer, request the Doctor to order a arterial doppler with ABI and TBI blood pressure measurements.  

THE 30 DAY ASSESSMENT 

For every patient, one of the key hallmarks is that the wound is 50% reduced in 30 days from initiation of treatment or a complete relation must occur of the patient to determine what underlying factor is interfering with wound progression. This protocol insures wounds continue to heal and if they are not healing, identification to underlying factors and modifying treatment occurs to insure healing progression. Most diabetic wounds heal in 20 weeks according to national statistics. However, Dr. Reed typically heal most wounds in six to ten weeks that are not complicated. 

WOUND TYPES

The types of ulcers treated include the following:
Diabetic wounds
Pressure Ulcers
Venous status ulcers
Skin lacerations
Traumatic injuries
Ischemic Ulcers with or without gangrene
Post-surgical incision wounds
Infected wounds
Post-cancer radiation wounds
Lymph edema ulcerations
Burn wounds

WOUND CARE TYPES OF TREATMENT

Wound Care involves many interventions for treating the wound. All of the different interventions are tools for healing wounds and are not inclusive as to a cure. These include the following:
Tropical wound medications
Hydrogel dressings
Debridement of non-viable or infected tissue
Compressive Dressings
Gradient compression stockings
Weight bearing off-loading total contact cast or walking cast.
Hyperbaric therapy
Surgical wound closure
Wound Vacuum Assisted Closure
Growth Factors
Biologic Skin substitutes.
DISCLAIMER: MATERIAL ON THIS SITE IS BEING PROVIDED FOR EDUCATIONAL AND INFORMATION PURPOSES AND IS NOT MEANT TO REPLACE THE DIAGNOSIS OR CARE PROVIDED BY YOUR OWN MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL. This information should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease or prescribing any medication. Visit a health care professional to proceed with any treatment for a health problem.
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