Helping Healing
When a wound fails to heal following six weeks of standard medical care, it is considered a "problem wound" and has the potential to benefit from the services offered by a wound healing center. The Center for Wound Healing and Hyperbaric Medicine at Hartford Hospital provides high quality, cost-effective treatment for individuals with problem wounds.

Diagnoses typically referred to a wound care center include:
  • diabetic foot ulcers
  • chronic venous ulcers (leg ulcers)
  • pressure ulcers (decubiti, bed sores)
  • chronic osteomyelitis (bone infection)
  • radiation-related tissue damage
  • any ulcer/wound that persists for more than 6-weeks despite medical care
These wounds typically occur in persons suffering from:
  • diabetes
  • congestive heart failure
  • stroke
  • vascular disease
  • cancer
  • venous thrombosis
  • trauma
  • obesity
  • collagen vascular diseases
  • complications associated with surgery and spinal cord injuries
  • renal failure and dialysis
  • chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and other lung diseases.

The range of services offered include:
  • Vascular assessment, including determination of ankle-brachial index and transcutaneous oxygen measurements. Further testing can be carried out within the hospital vascular laboratory or at a vascular lab of the referring physician’s choice
  • Nutritional assessment and intervention
  • Infection assessment and intervention
  • Pain assessment and analgesic optimization
  • Scientifically proven treatment protocols that include advanced wound care technologies, such as hyperbaric oxygen therapy, topical growth factor therapy, negative pressure therapy, bioengineered skin substitutes and total contact casting
  • Collaboration with physical therapists and podiatrists for determination of appropriate footwear and application of modern off-loading techniques
  • Compression therapy and lower extremity edema control
  • Patient and family education.
  • Lifelong follow up care to ensure recurrences are kept to a minimum is also an option.
  • Access to investigational protocols and emerging new therapies