An ulcer is the medical term for an open wound to the skin. In some patients, foot ulcerations can take a long time to heal.

Anybody can get a foot ulcer, some of the most frequent causes of foot ulcers are: -

  • Footwear which does not fit correctly
  • Injury to the foot.
  • Poor foot hygiene
  • Dry skin
  • Walking barefoot.

You are more at risk of developing a foot ulcer if :-

  • You have a loss of feeling in your feet (neuropathy)
  • You have reduced blood flow to your feet (peripheral vascular disease / limb ischemia)
  • You have a systemic disorder such as diabetes
  • You have had an ulceration or amputation in the past
  • You have hard skin or callus on your feet
  • You cannot care for your own feet
  • You suffer sight loss

What are the risks of having an ulcer?

  • Infection - An ulceration is a portal through which bacteria can easily enter the body therefore increases the risk of the wound becoming infected.  An infected wound may lead to infection of the bone and increase the risk of a need for possible amputation.
  • Sepsis - Sepsis is a serious and life-threatening condition. Sepsis occurs when the immune system overreacts to an infection and starts to damage the body's own cells and organs to fight the infection. You cannot spread sepsis to another person.
  • Amputation- Many foot and leg amputations begin as ulcerations.
  • Ulcers can also lead to pain, loss of mobility and mental health issues associated with the ongoing problems caused by ulcers.

Why is it important to care for wound dressings between appointments?

It is important to care for your dressing between appointments to avoid infection and to help the healing process. The following wound and dressing care advice should be followed: -

  • Keep dressing clean and dry to reduce the risk of the wound becoming infected
  • Only remove or change dressing if you have been told to do so by your podiatrist.
  • Do not pick the wound or disturb the dressing as this may delay the healing process or increase the risk of infection.
  • Do not cover the dressing with a waterproof covering for long periods other than briefly to shower or bathe as this may cause the wound to become too moist and cause the tissue to break down.
  • Keep pets and other animals away from your wound as bacteria carried by animals can cause infection.

Pressure relief

Pressure relief is an important part of treating foot ulcers because any pressure caused to the wound will slow down the healing process. Pressure may be caused by footwear or walking. There are many different options available to offload pressure. Your podiatrist can discuss these options with you to decide which would be best for you.

For further information or if you develop a problem with your feet, please contact your nearest podiatry clinic on

Carlisle – 01228 608020
Penrith – 01768 245628
Workington– 01900 705120
Whitehaven – 01946 68635

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For further information on confidentiality contact the Information Governance Team:

Information.Governance@ncic.nhs.uk | 01228 603961

Feedback

We appreciate and encourage feedback, which helps us to improve our services. If you have any comments, compliments or concerns to make about your care, please contact the Patient, Advice & Liaison Service:

Pals@ncic.nhs.uk | 01228 814008 or 01946 523818

If you would like to raise a complaint regarding your care, please contact the Complaints Department:

Complaints@ncic.nhs.uk | 01228 936302