Wound Care

Choose UNC Health Rockingham Wound Healing Center, now on the UNC Health Rockingham  campus, for skilled care that supports healing and improves your quality of life.

When to See a Wound Specialist

A chronic wound lasts for a long time and doesn’t heal on its own in 30 days. Turn to our experts if you have a lingering wound and self-care or treatment from your primary care provider (PCP) does not help it heal.

You may benefit from wound healing services at UNC Rockingham if:

• The wound covers a large part of the body
• The wound has signs of infection, such as drainage, swelling, redness, and pain
• The wound is in a location that makes it hard to heal or treat at home, or the affected part of the body lacks feeling
• You have trouble moving
• You have a health condition that decreases your ability to heal, such as diabetes or poor blood flow (circulation)
• You have a history of non-healing wounds
• Your body does not get enough nutrition due to a health condition or poor diet
• You have a suppressed immune system due to a health condition like HIV/AIDS or medical treatments such as chemotherapy

Types of Wounds We Treat

You’ll be the focus of a team with the experience to treat:

• Diabetic foot ulcers, open sores that happen due to injury and may lead to infection
• Diabetes osteomyelitis, a complication of diabetic foot ulcers that causes swelling and pain
• Lymphedema, swelling in an arm or leg that may happen during cancer treatment
• Open wounds, a break in the skin that’s at risk for infection
• Pressure ulcers, or injuries to the skin from pressure, moisture, and friction
• Severe or large burns
• Surgical wounds
• Toe infection
• Varicose veins, twisted and enlarged veins that may be painful
• Venous skin ulcers, sores on the lower leg from low blood flow

At Your First Appointment

During your first visit to the Wound Healing Center, your provider will do an examination and ask about your symptoms. You’ll talk about your medical history, current medications you take, and any treatments you’ve tried to heal the wound. Then, you and your provider will work together to create a plan that helps you heal while preventing infection and other complications.

Your Treatment Plan

Depending on your condition and symptoms, you’ll receive:

• Education on wound prevention and eating a healthy diet
• Lymphedema therapy, which may include wrapping and referral to a physical or occupational therapist
• Skin substitute or tissue application to the wound
• Total contact casting (TCC), uses a special cast to relieve pressure on a foot wound so it can heal
• Vacuum-assisted closure of a wound, or wound vac, which gently removes fluid from a wound to clean it and decreases swelling

The amount of time it takes your wound to heal depends on many factors. Rely on your providers to answer your questions and provide support every step of the way.

Learn More About Wound Care

Call the UNC Health Rockingham Wound Healing Center at (336) 627-6183 if you have a question or want to learn more about our services.