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Winning the Battle Against Amputation
In the 1970s the catch-phrase for The Six Million Dollar Man was, "We can rebuild him, we've got the technology." Today, the Wound Healing Center at PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center has equally amazing technology to fight battles against amputation. It may make you feel like a million — or six!
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Jonathan Dykstra, MD
Medical director
Wound Healing Center
PeaceHealth Southwest
Specialty Clinics
8716 E. Mill Plain Blvd.
Vancouver, WA 98668
360.514.HEAL (4325) |
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"Some amputations may result from trauma, such as an accident," explains Jonathan Dykstra, MD, medical director for the Wound Healing Center. "But nearly one in five diabetics who develop foot ulcers may require amputation within three to five years."
Diabetes-related ulcers now account for 60 percent of all lower-limb amputations nationwide. The American Diabetes Association estimates the three-year survival rate is 50 percent.
Despite such grim statistics, there is hope! "We want to help people stay whole and healthy," continues Dr. Dykstra. "We can prevent the need for amputation, by using powerful techniques to heal serious wounds."
PeaceHealth Southwest's Wound Healing Center uses Apligraf® and other organic skin substitute products to kick-start the healing cycle. Looking like a thin, circular piece of real skin, the skin substitute is created from biological ingredients found in healthy human skin. It is placed directly on the wound and covered with a protective dressing, to deliver fresh cells, nutrients and proteins directly into the wound.
"We see some pretty impressive results with these techniques," says Dr. Dykstra. "We have been able to heal wounds that other doctors had given up on."
This amazing skin substitute is just one of the advanced technologies available right here in Clark County. The Wound Healing Center also offers hospital-based outpatient wound care, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, disease management, diabetes care, and more.
Learn more:
- Go to the Wound Healing Center's main webpage.
- Call 360.514.HEAL (4325).
Published October 2009
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