ORIGINAL ARTICLES

Pattern of presentation in a community outpatient wound clinic

Ayodele Olukayode Iyun, Omobolaji Ibukun Iyun

Department of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria

Correspondence Address:
Dr. Ayodele Olukayode Iyun
Department of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, University College Hospital, Ibadan Nigeria

Source of Support: None
Conflict of Interest: None

Introduction: The management of patients with cutaneous wounds entails both inpatient and outpatient care. There is scarcity of dedicated community wound clinics in Nigeria to guarantee appropriate management of especially difficult-to-heal wounds on outpatient basis. The aim of the study was to describe the pattern of presentation of patients with wounds at a community outpatient wound clinic (COWC).

Materials and Methods: Consecutive patients with wounds who presented to a COWC in the city of Ibadan from October 2015 to December 2021 were included. Descriptive analysis was done using IBM® SPSS® Statistics 21.

Results: Two hundred and forty-four patients with wounds presented at the wound clinic. There was a slight female preponderance of 52%. Almost one-tenth of the patients were 80 years old and above. Post-traumatic wounds were the commonest type of wounds accounting for 15.3% of the patients seen. This was followed by diabetic wounds (14.9%) and haemoglobinopathic (sickle cell) wounds (13.2%). In patients with leg wounds who presented during the period, diabetic wounds (24.4%) was the commonest aetiology, haemoglobinopathic leg wounds accounted for 23% of patients, and post-traumatic leg wounds were seen in 20% of the patients.

Conclusion: COWC is an option to managing complex wounds from various aetiology. Best practices in wound care will result in more favourable outcome in difficult-to- heal wounds and early referrals from wound clinics for limb salvaging procedures are additional benefits.