title: Aetiologies and outcomes of wounds in an outpatient programme.
abstract: This study reviewed the records of all new patients seen in an outpatient wound-care programme during a six-month period. Most of the 115 patients were referred by physicians in internal medicine or family practice (48%) or surgeons (39%); 101 had a wound (88%). Of the 92 who had their wound measured at the time of their first clinic visit, 72 (78%) had their largest wound located on a lower extremity and 40% of all lower extremity wounds were on the feet. Wounds were most frequently due to pressure (36%), venous insufficiency (16%), diabetic neuropathy (16%), or arterial insufficiency (13%). Within 12 months of their initial presentation, wound closure was documented in 35 of the 92 patients (38%). Of the four most common aetiologies, the healing rate was highest in wounds attributable to venous insufficiency (67%) (p < 0.02).
authors.affiliation: Baystate Medical Center, Springfield, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: E V
authors.initials: EV
authors.lastname: Granowitz
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Szostek
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Burns
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Carmel
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Emhoff
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Brown
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D006801:Humans; D008485:Medical Audit; D008875:Middle Aged; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014945:Wound Healing; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*