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What Is a Refractory Wound?

According to the Web site medicalnewstoday.com, refractory wounds are among the most common requiring medical treatment. Refractory wounds are defined as non-healing and chronic wounds. The principal cause of refractory wounds are diabetic ulcers.

  1. Types of Refractory Wounds

    • According to the Website modernmedicine.com, the three most common refractory wounds are the venous leg ulcer, the diabetic foot ulcer and the pressure ulcer. Total costs to Americans for treatment of these conditions is nearly $10 billion per year.

    Treatment of Refractory Wounds

    • Standards for treatment include assessing the situation, cleaning the wound and compression bandages. The doctor may also review nutritional information with the patient.

    Success of Treatment

    • Treatment of refractory wounds requires a long-term care plan. Less than half of the cases involving diabetic foot ulcers are resolved in less than six months.

    Assessing Refractory Wounds

    • Doctors can assess the likelihood of refractory wound healing by studying the makeup of the cells in and around the wound. This allows the doctor to determine the proper treatment course.

    Problem Refractory Wounds

    • According to the Web site wesleyhyperbaric.com, problem refractory wounds are defined as those that do not heal in an appropriate time frame. They site suggests healing can be promoted with treatment in a hyperbaric chamber.

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