Wound management can save limbs and lives

KUALA LUMPUR: Trainer Suresh Kumar, who was once involved in first-aid work, used to think that wound caring meant washing the wound, cleaning it with antiseptic and applying a plaster.

He later realised wound management is much more than that because lives and limbs can be saved when medical staff are well trained in this skill.

It all started about 20 years ago when a friend’s diabetic father was told one of his legs had to be amputated.

He went from doctor to doctor in a desperate attempt to save his leg, only to be told the leg must go.

One doctor, however, told the man to give him a chance to treat the wound first, with amputation being the last option.

Two months down the road, the wound healed and the man’s leg was saved.

“Today, in his 70s, the man is still walking on his two legs. That was when I realised that wound care is very important,” Suresh told more than 600 delegates from 40 countries at the Global Wound Conference yesterday.

Coincidentally, the doctor who treated the man was Prof Dr Harikrishna KR Nair, president of the Malaysian Society of Wound Care Professionals.

“Wound management is crucial for healing the wounds with minimal or no complications. The awareness is there now that wound care is a very important aspect of healthcare.

“Many modalities and dressings are available for management of chronic complex wounds,” Dr Harikrishna said in his opening speech.

Meanwhile, the Health Ministry’s Medical Development Division deputy director Datin Seri Dr Asmah Samat said diabetes was becoming a major problem in Malaysia with 17.5% of the population suffering from the debilitating disease.

“Among diabetics, a quarter of them will develop diabetic foot complications but 85% of these cases are preventable,” said Dr Asmah, who was representing Health Minister Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad at the event.