For Daniel Jones, 62, of Cuba, Mo., working as a drywall taper was something he enjoyed for many years. It was a physically demanding job with hauling heavy supplies, balancing on stilts, and working long hours. He never thought a seemingly minor injury would force him to not only retire earlier than expected but it almost cost him his foot.
In January 2023, Jones stepped on a screw at work. He didn’t experience much pain, so he tried to treat the wound at home for a few weeks; however, his foot eventually became swollen and red, which landed him in the emergency department at Missouri Baptist Sullivan Hospital.
“They diagnosed me with a diabetic ulcer and cleaned the wound on my foot,” said Jones. “The medical team was really concerned that I might lose part of my foot, so they referred me to Dr. Jaroslaw Michalik for a surgical procedure to clean my wound.”
Jones was also diagnosed with diabetes during his visit to the emergency department, which is what caused the diabetic ulcer on his foot. Diabetic ulcers are a serious complication caused by poor circulation, susceptibility to infection, and nerve damage from high blood sugar levels. With limited blood flow to the wound, the body struggles to heal, which ultimately leads the wound to develop into a diabetic ulcer.
Jones was then admitted to Missouri Baptist Sullivan Hospital and underwent a procedure known as surgical debridement while under the care of Dr. Michalik. With a surgical debridement, dead, or unhealthy tissue from a wound is removed to help it begin healing. This allows the healthy tissue to heal while eliminating conditions for bacterial overgrowth that might lead to pain, sepsis, or amputation.
Dr. Michalik also applied a wound VAC, which is a device that applies suction to the wound tissue to enhance blood flow and tissue growth, while controlling drainage to help expedite healing post-surgery. Then, he referred Jones to the Wound Care Center at Missouri Baptist Sullivan Hospital for ongoing wound care treatments and monitoring.
“Diabetic ulcer wounds often take longer to heal and sometimes don’t heal with conventional treatment,” said Dr. Jennifer Barbin, certified wound specialist physician and the medical director of the Wound Care Center at Missouri Baptist Sullivan Hospital. “That’s why we use advanced wound therapy to promote tissue healing, prevent further infection, and reduce a patient’s risk for amputation. In Daniel’s case, we were initially concerned he might lose his toes or even his foot, as his bone and tendon were visible when he came to see us. We immediately started him on a combination of therapies to address the infection, promote tissue healing, and help him avoid possible amputation.”
Dr. Barbin and her team at the Wound Care Center administered intravenous antibiotics to treat Jones’ bone infection and applied skin substitutes from neonatal foreskin to help with tissue growth. He visited the Wound Care Center every week over the course of 49 weeks to have his wound treated and redressed. He also underwent a total of 60 sessions in the hyperbaric oxygen chamber.
“We’re very grateful to have these modalities available to us here at the Wound Care Center at Missouri Baptist Sullivan Hospital,” said Dr. Barbin. “Amputation used to be the first line of treatment for diabetic foot ulcers, and now, it’s the last resort. We’re dedicated to the preservation of limbs, helping get our patients back to the activities they enjoy, all while being pain-free from wounds. It does take time and commitment along with support from family and friends, but it’s all worth it in the end.”
After nearly one year of weekly wound care treatments, Jones’ wound on his foot has completely healed. He has gone from nearly losing that foot to regaining full use of it. He’s able to once again go cycling, which has been long-time hobby of his. As a newly diagnosed diabetic, Jones also knows he must remain vigilant when it comes to foot care, regularly checking for any wounds that may occur and getting treatment as needed.
“I did end up retiring from my drywall job a little earlier than I anticipated, but I’m so thankful to still have my foot and toes,” said Jones. “I’m also grateful to everyone at the Wound Care Center. They did a great job taking care of me. I know things could’ve gone very differently without the type of care they provided.”
For more information about chronic wound treatment or to make an appointment at the Wound Care Center at Missouri Baptist Sullivan Hospital, please call (573) 468-1997.