About Our Services
The wound-care specialists at Northwest Health - La Porte use national guidelines and proven clinical evidence when treating and managing wounds.
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT)
HBOT is a specialized treatment originally developed for scuba divers who experienced "the bends." When used for wound healing, patients relax inside of one of two pressurized chambers and breathe 100% pure oxygen. The highly concentrated oxygen goes directly to the bloodstream to assist the healing process of the wounds and helps fight certain types of infection. The oxygen also stimulates new blood vessel growth, improving circulation and wound healing.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is used to enhance healing of wounds, particularly those that are difficult-to-heal or infected. Doctors at Northwest Health - La Porte may use hyperbaric oxygen therapy to treat conditions such as:
- Air or gas embolisms
- Bone infections
- Burns
- Crush injuries and other traumatic injuries that compromise blood supply to tissues
- Decompression sickness
- Gangrene
- Poisoning from carbon monoxide or cyanide
- Pressure sores
- Radiation treatment injuries or thermal burns
- Refractory osteomyelitis
- Skin grafts
- Wounds that have not healed with other therapies, such as diabetic foot ulcers
To learn more or to schedule an appointment, call (219) 326-2476.
Vacuum Assisted Closure (VAC)
A newer treatment that has revolutionized how non-healing wounds were treated, VAC involves the wound being covered in a dressing that has a drainage tube. The tube is connected to a vacuum source that removes waste and excess fluid from the wound to enhance circulation.
Various Wound Dressing Materials
From natural materials to bioengineered skin substitutes, the type of dressing used is dependent on its application and the type of wound being treated.
Topical Agents
Topically applied platelet-derived growth factors have proven beneficial in promoting wound healing. The US Food and Drug Administration has approved this to promote healing of diabetic foot ulcers.