Lower Extremity Wounds. A Problem-Based Learning Approach

Karen Ousey and Caroline Mcintosh along with their fellow authors have sought in this book to bring to the attention of the reader the reality of lower limb wounds today. That reality is that these wounds are invariably complex in nature with multiple causes and that their effective management requires the input of a variety of healthcare professionals whose roles may overlap. Traditionally, textbooks have sought topresentthe facts in clearand concise bite size sections. Such presentation is appealing to both reader and publisher but can at times lead to a false representation of reality by oversimplifying the topics presented. However, in the real world a patient rarely presents with a single cause of their wound. Wounds of the lower limb often develop as a result of a number of combined pathologies many of which are likely to be chronic diseases which can only be managed, not cured. Thus, an understanding of the various disease processes and their effective management needsto be related to the overall plan of care. When the patient is considered in terms of their psycho-social lives another set of challenges or potential impediments to healing can be found. Once again, there are professionals who can assist the patient and thus improve the likelihood of a successful outcome. Traditionally the term non-compliant has been used to describe patients who fail in the eyes of the professional to comply with the treatment plans provided. Consideration of the psycho-social aspects of the patient's life outside the clinic or between visits from the healthcare professional could identify reasons why the treatment prescribed is inappropriate for or unacceptable to the patient.