ABSTRACT
There is a growing need for expertise in dermatological consultations in the long-term care setting throughout the world. For many people, the nursing home will be their final home. Others may remain in a nursing home for a short time as they recuperate from an illness or operation. About 20 percent of nursing-home residents are able to go home after a period of rehabilitation, therefore they may become part of an office-based practice. Chronic wounds often result from surgical procedures, traumatic insults, or metabolic, infectious, or neoplastic disorders. Pressure ulcers, diabetic ulcers, lower-leg ulcers, vascular ulcers, postoperative open wounds and enterocutaneous fistulae are frequent types of chronic wound. The occurrence of pressure ulcers can be minimized by taking the following precautions: mobility and adequate nutrition. Zinc and vitamins A and K are important in the comprehensive wound treatment protocol. Vitamin C, an antioxidant, speeds wound healing.
