Chronic Wounds

At Windy City Wound Care, we specialize in the diagnosis and management of chronic wounds—wounds that have failed to progress through the normal healing stages in a timely, orderly fashion.

What Is a Chronic Wound?

A chronic wound is one that does not follow the expected progression of healing and instead stalls or refuses to heal within an expected timeframe. Common signs include:

Wounds present for several weeks (4–12 weeks or more) without significant improvement
Persistent inflammation or deterioration instead of healing
Underlying factors such as vascular disease, diabetes, pressure, or infection

Common Types & Causes

We routinely treat chronic wounds arising from a variety of causes, including:

Venous leg ulcers – related to poor venous circulation
Arterial (ischemic) ulcers – due to insufficient blood flow
Diabetic foot ulcers / neuropathic wounds – nerve damage and impaired circulation
Pressure injuries – wounds over bony areas in immobile patients
Post-surgical or traumatic wounds that fail to heal as expected

Underlying risk factors we address include advanced age, diabetes, smoking, obesity, poor nutrition, and compromised circulation.

Why Prompt Specialist Care Matters

Chronic wounds aren’t just stubborn—they carry serious risks: infection, tissue loss, prolonged pain, reduced mobility, and in severe cases, amputation or systemic complications. Because healing has stalled, successful treatment requires a comprehensive assessment and targeted interventions rather than simple dressing changes.

Our Approach

Here’s how we treat chronic wounds at Windy City Wound Care:

1. Comprehensive Assessment

Detailed evaluation of wound location, size, depth, tissue type, and surrounding skin
Review of nutritional status, blood sugar, circulation, and infection risk
Diagnostic studies when needed (vascular imaging, cultures, ABI tests)

2. Individualized Treatment Plan

Debridement of non-viable tissue to allow new growth
Moisture-balanced dressings and advanced wound materials
Infection control and targeted therapy
Addressing underlying causes like pressure, circulation, or diabetes
Regular progress monitoring and documentation

3. Advanced Therapies

Negative-pressure wound therapy
Skin substitutes and advanced dressings
Coordination with vascular surgeons, podiatrists, or endocrinologists

4. Patient Education & Prevention

Teaching proper at-home wound care and infection signs
Preventing recurrence through offloading, compression, and nutrition