Aetiologies and outcomes of wounds in an outpatient programme

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).