Arterial & mixed wounds
Wounds when blood flow to the legs is limited.
Some leg and foot wounds are slow to heal because the arteries aren’t delivering enough blood. These need a careful approach — and the right specialists looped in early.
Arterial wounds tend to show up on the toes, heel, or outer foot and can be painful, especially when the leg is raised or at night. Poor circulation means the tissue simply isn’t getting the oxygen it needs to repair itself. Many people have a mix of arterial and venous causes, which changes how the wound should be treated.
Because blood flow is the limiting factor, our clinicians assess circulation first and coordinate with vascular specialists when a wound signals that the arteries need attention. Treating the wound without addressing flow rarely works — so we look at the whole leg.
Signs to watch for
- A wound on the toes, heel, or foot that isn’t healing
- Leg or foot pain at rest, often worse at night or when lying flat
- Cool, pale, or shiny skin on the lower leg or foot
- Weak or absent pulses in the foot
- Wounds with a dry, dark, or ‘punched-out’ look
What care looks like
How we help this heal.
We assess
We check circulation and feeling, and flag right away if a wound points to an arterial problem.
We treat
We coordinate with vascular and podiatry specialists so flow can be evaluated and, if needed, improved.
We coordinate
We protect and care for the wound in a way that’s appropriate for limited blood flow — the approach here is different from a venous wound.
We follow through
We watch closely for infection, which is more dangerous when circulation is poor.
Related wounds we treat
We handle these too.
Diabetic foot ulcers
Foot sores in people with diabetes — treated early, before they become serious.
Learn moreVenous leg ulcers
Weepy ankle and lower-leg wounds with swelling — healed with proper compression.
Learn morePressure injuries & bed sores
Bed sores from sitting or lying too long — treated and prevented.
Learn more
Where we visit
Care across the Illinois Metro East.
We’re built for the Illinois side of the river — every county and town below has its own page so you can see exactly how we help where you live. Pick your county or your town to get started.
We’re ready when you are
Have a wound that needs attention?
Call 314-325-0126 or request care. Tell us what’s going on and we’ll help you find the right next step.