BEST Family-Friendly Clinic (Bandar Utama)
Importance of Health Screening for Prevention and Management of Wound Care
The skin, the body’s largest organ, serves as a vital barrier against external threats. Wound healing involves complex processes—haemostasis, inflammation, proliferation, and remodeling—to repair injuries. However, factors like diabetes, arterial and venous diseases, pressure ulcers, and surgical wounds often lead to chronic wounds requiring specialized care. Poor wound management can result in severe complications, including infections, amputations, and sepsis, which impose significant social and economic burdens.
Effective wound care promotes healing by maintaining wound moisture, preventing infections, and supporting re-epithelization. This approach requires a multidisciplinary team to address wound etiology, manage symptoms, and advocate for lifestyle changes like diet, exercise, and smoking cessation. Studies indicate a multidisciplinary approach can reduce amputation rates and complex wound complications by over 50%.
Malaysia faces a high prevalence of diabetes, with 18.3% of adults affected as of 2019, contributing to widespread diabetic foot ulcers and chronic wounds. An aging population further drives the demand for wound care services, as elderly individuals are prone to pressure ulcers, venous ulcers, and delayed wound healing.
Comprehensive wound care focuses on addressing the diverse needs of patients to promote optimal healing and prevent complications. Key components include:
- Wound Assessment: Detailed evaluation of wound size, depth, location, tissue type, and contributing factors such as infection or vascular issues. Standardized tools ensure accurate diagnosis for all wound types, including diabetic foot ulcers, pressure ulcers, and surgical wounds.
- Advanced Therapies: Appropriate dressings like foams, hydrocolloids, and antimicrobial materials, along with specialized treatments like negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) and growth factors, support healing for complex or chronic wounds.
- Debridement and Infection Management: Removal of necrotic tissue through surgical or non-surgical methods creates a clean wound bed. Infection control includes wound cleansing, antimicrobial dressings, and antibiotics when necessary.
- Pressure Redistribution: Offloading devices, therapeutic footwear, and pressure-relieving surfaces reduce pressure on vulnerable areas, preventing further damage and supporting recovery.
- Vascular Assessment and Intervention: Non-invasive techniques like Doppler ultrasound assess blood flow, while interventions such as angioplasty or bypass surgery restore circulation for improved healing.
- Patient Education: Patients and caregivers learn wound care techniques, infection prevention, and lifestyle modifications like healthy eating, exercise, and smoking cessation to support recovery and prevent recurrence.
Integrating these elements within a multidisciplinary approach ensures effective wound management and improved patient outcomes.
Health screenings are integral to wound care, aiding early detection of comorbidities like diabetes, vascular diseases, and nutritional deficiencies that impact healing. Screening plans should be personalized based on age, gender, and medical history, ensuring targeted interventions. Screenings enable proactive monitoring of blood pressure, glucose levels, and microvascular complications, providing insights to prevent wound complications and promote overall health.
By addressing potential health concerns early, comprehensive screenings support timely interventions and optimize wound healing. Investing in routine health checks is a proactive step toward reducing complications, improving outcomes, and ensuring a healthier, longer life.
Dr. Zafrina Burukan
Director
BeHealth CLINIC
