Non-healing wounds are often underestimated, yet they can sometimes indicate underlying health issues far beyond routine infections.
Medically, a chronic wound is one that fails to progress through the normal stages of healing and remains open or inflamed for weeks or months.
Factors like diabetes, poor blood circulation, infections, or compromised immunity are well-known reasons, but in rare cases, stubborn wounds may even signal malignancy.
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Most people tend to ignore persistent non-healing wounds or continue treating them with repeated dressings and antibiotics. However, experts stress that delayed healing should not be taken lightly. Warning signs include pain, swelling, redness, recurrent discharge, or functional difficulty around the affected area.
If non-healing wounds do not improve despite proper care, it is always wise to investigate further. Sometimes, it’s more than skin-deep. A timely biopsy or deeper evaluation can completely change the course of treatment and even save lives.
When a patient presents with chronic non-healing wounds, doctors often rely on imaging, cultures, and sometimes tissue biopsy to establish the root cause.
Management strategies range from advanced wound dressings and infection control to surgical excision and reconstruction. Identifying underlying disease early makes treatment more effective and helps prevent avoidable complications.
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Non-Healing Wounds: Never Ignore
At Wockhardt Hospitals, Mumbai Central, a 65-year-old woman arrived with a wound on her left shoulder that had persisted for over five months after a routine injection. She also complained of pain and restricted shoulder movement.
Despite multiple courses of antibiotics, the wound showed no signs of healing. We performed a wide local excision, and to the team’s surprise, histopathology confirmed the presence of relapsed lymphoma – a cancer the patient had been declared cured of three years earlier.
The surgical team reconstructed the wound with a flap procedure, restoring the patient’s mobility and function. She has now been referred to oncology care for further treatment, ensuring that the cancer is managed in time.
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Cases like this highlight how vigilance and expertise can transform outcomes. While chronic wounds are common, ignoring them or relying solely on repeated dressings can delay critical diagnoses. Surgical intervention not only restores physical function but also uncovers hidden conditions that may be life-threatening if missed.
The key message is simple: a wound that refuses to heal should never be ignored. With timely evaluation, advanced surgical techniques, and clinical suspicion, what seems like a minor complaint can actually become the first step in saving a life.
