Our Skilled Wichita Podiatrist Discusses UltraMIST Therapy as a Treatment Option for Your Open Foot Wound
If you’re struggling with a foot wound that hasn’t healed after traditional wound care, you may wonder if there’s any type of treatment that can help restore your foot health. Any kind of open wound, whether it’s a diabetic foot ulcer or a surgical site that hasn’t closed properly, can be painful and interfere with your daily activities.
Our experienced podiatrist at Central Kansas Podiatry Associates, Dr. Benjamin Weaver, understands how frustrating and unpleasant an open foot wound can be. He also understands your desire to get back on your feet as fast as possible. If traditional wound care doesn’t work, he may recommend UltraMIST therapy, which offers a different approach to healing your condition. Here, Dr. Weaver discusses this innovative technology that may provide faster and more effective wound healing.
Understanding UltraMIST Therapy
For any patient who suffers from an acute or chronic foot wound, any delay in the healing process increases their health risk and negatively impacts their quality of life. Some types of typical wound management may work fine; however, some wounds don’t heal with standard treatments. That’s why Dr. Weaver may recommend UltraMIST to treat your foot wound.
UltraMIST is a leading-edge wound treatment system that combines two powerful healing agents: ultrasound energy and saline mist. Instead of making direct contact with the wound and/or the area around it, our podiatrist can treat your foot wound in a non-invasive way. The low-frequency ultrasound waves penetrate the tissue to stimulate your body’s natural healing responses. UltraMIST delivers low-frequency ultrasound to the treatment site using a non-contact saline solution.
The combination of ultrasound and saline helps to create an optimal environment for healing by doing the following:
- Reducing inflammation
- Increasing the flow of oxygen, blood, and nutrients to the affected tissue
- Promoting your own body’s healing capabilities
- Breaking down bacteria
- Stimulating the production of new, healthy tissue
- Encouraging cell stimulation
UltraMIST Can Treat Many Types of Wounds
UltraMIST can be used to treat a variety of wounds, including those that aren’t healing on their own or are caused by an underlying health condition. At Central Kansas Podiatry Associates, we use UltraMIST on the following types of wounds:
- Pressure ulcers. These wounds, also called bedsores, are areas of damaged skin and tissue caused by prolonged pressure that reduces blood flow. These ulcers can develop quickly, especially in patients who suffer from a condition that limits their ability to move around or change positions.
- Diabetic foot ulcers. These wounds often develop in patients with diabetes and are typically caused by poor circulation and nerve damage.
- Venous ulcers. A patient with poor circulation in the legs can suffer these persistent wounds. When damaged leg veins prevent blood from flowing properly to the heart, blood can pool in the legs, and the pressure buildup can lead to fluid leaking into the skin and tissue.
- Post-surgical wounds. Some surgical sites may benefit from UltraMIST to support proper healing.
- Burn wounds. UltraMIST may be used in conjunction with other standard burn wound treatments. Your podiatrist may consider UltraMIST for superficial and partial thickness burns.
- Deep tissue injuries. Our podiatrist may consider UltraMIST treatment for deep tissue injuries, including deep tissue pressure ulcers.
Why Consider UltraMIST
When you have an open wound on your foot, you may wonder why you should consider UltraMIST for treatment. This state-of-the-art technology offers the following advantages over traditional wound care:
- No downtime. Most patients return to work or to their normal activities immediately following treatment.
- Minimal discomfort. Most patients report they feel little to no pain during their treatment sessions. Many patients say their pain is reduced immediately.
- Easy application. Because UltraMIST is a no-contact treatment, there’s no direct pressure on sensitive wound areas.
- Quick treatments. A single UltraMIST treatment typically takes 3 – 20 minutes to complete.
Success and Effectiveness of UltraMIST
UltraMIST exceeds traditional wound care treatment by doing the following:
- Penetrating biofilm. This protective layer of bacteria often prevents other treatments from reaching infected tissue.
- Reaching deep tissue. The low-frequency waves travel further than topical treatments or higher-frequency therapies.
- Stimulating stalled wounds. Many chronic wounds become stalled in the inflammatory phase. UltraMIST helps restart the healing process.
What Research Says About the Effectiveness of UltraMIST
Research shows that the unique UltraMIST therapy provides up to 80% faster healing rates compared to standard wound care. It also can provide the following:
- Significant pain reduction for most patients
- Better outcomes for diabetic foot ulcers and other chronic wounds
- Lower risk of infection during healing
The Ideal Patients for UltraMIST
Dr. Weaver can assess your open wound and discuss with you if you’re a good candidate for UltraMIST. This revolutionary therapy especially helps patients who are dealing with the following:
- Wounds that won’t heal. If your wound hasn’t improved with traditional treatments, they will often respond to UltraMIST.
- Extreme pain sensitivity. Patients who find it difficult to tolerate direct wound contact may benefit from this no-contact treatment.
- Risk of infection. Patients who are at a higher risk of infection may benefit from the bacteria-fighting properties of UltraMIST.
- Multiple conditions. Patients with multiple wound conditions or complex conditions may benefit from UltraMIST, which can treat various wound types simultaneously.
What Should I Expect at an UltraMIST Treatment Session?
After Dr. Weaver discusses your medical history and performs a thorough examination of your wound, he may recommend UltraMIST as a treatment option. If so, you can expect your session to include the following steps:
- Wound preparation. We gently clean your wound and remove any dressings.
- Treatment setup. The UltraMIST applicator is positioned 1-2 centimeters above your wound.
- Mist application. Fine saline droplets carry ultrasound energy to your wound for 3-5 minutes per square centimeter.
- Energy delivery. Ultrasound waves penetrate deep into tissue, promoting healing at multiple levels.
- Wound dressing. After treatment, we apply appropriate dressings to protect your wound.
Follow-on Treatment
Dr. Weaver will develop an individualized treatment plan and discuss it with you. You may need treatments 2-3 times a week or until your healing goals are met. Afterward, he will monitor your wound’s response to the treatment and adjust the plan as needed.