Dr Kinjal Mehta, Senior Consultant from the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and director of the Foot & Ankle Surgery at Changi General Hospital (CGH), answers your questions on chronic wounds.
About 1 in 20 Singaporeans suffer from chronic wound conditions.
Unfortunately, this number is set to increase due to an ageing population and the prevalence of diabetes.
Chronic wounds are wounds that do not heal within four to six weeks. Examples of chronic wounds include:
As chronic wounds can be complex, they need to be treated by a multidisciplinary team. Delayed wound healing can lead to complications such as infections and gangrene requiring amputations.
For February's "Ask the Specialist", Dr Kinjal Mehta, Senior Consultant from the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and director of the Foot & Ankle Surgery at Changi General Hospital (CGH), a member of the SingHealth group, will answer your questions on chronic wounds.
This 'Ask the Specialist' forum has closed. Thank you for your interest and participation.
About Dr Kinjal Mehta
Dr Kinjal Mehta is a senior consultant orthopaedic surgeon and director of the Foot & Ankle Surgery with the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at Changi General Hospital (CGH). She graduated from National University of Singapore and did her orthopaedic surgery training in Singapore.
She underwent foot and ankle fellowship training in Canada and has an interest in foot and ankle sports injuries, deformities and trauma. She is also active in teaching medical undergraduates and orthopaedic residents and attends conferences on a regular basis to present her research.
About the CGH Wound Healing Centre
The
CGH Wound Healing Centre (WHC) is believed to be the first multi-disciplinary setup in Singapore, focusing on early intervention and fast-track treatment of chronic wounds. Patients can receive treatment, diagnostic tests or assessment all within the same day, reducing the need for multiple visits.
By providing timely access to treatment, this one-stop centralised centre aims to prevent complications and reduce the need for hospitalisation for patients with chronic wounds.
The Wound Healing Centre is helmed by specialist-accredited surgeons from Vascular Surgery, Orthopaedic Surgery, Plastics, and Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery, with support from specialist wound nurses.
The team is trained to handle the full spectrum of wound management, including diabetic foot ulcers (DFU), arterial wounds, venous wounds, pressure injuries, and defects requiring skin cover.
To learn more about the centre, visit
here.
Ref: J22