Why won't my ankle wound heal with dressings alone?

Because the driver is usually venous pressure, not the skin. Until the underlying vein problem is relieved, dressings rarely hold — which is why we treat the vein and the wound together.

What does treatment involve?

Fixing the underlying vein (superficial-vein closure or deep-vein stenting), compression, and in-house wound care by our wound-care-trained physician assistants.

How long until it heals?

It varies with the wound and the circulation, but compression and treating the vein meaningfully improve healing. We monitor at each visit and escalate if it is not improving.

Is this the same as a diabetic foot ulcer?

No — diabetic ulcers are driven by nerve damage and often artery disease and sit at pressure points, while venous ulcers sit near the inner ankle. Many wounds are mixed, so we assess for each cause.

Who provides the care?

Our wound-care-trained physician assistants, working with Drs. Matthew Comstock and John Evans.

Why won't my ankle wound heal with dressings alone?

Because the driver is usually venous pressure, not the skin. Until the underlying vein problem is relieved, dressings rarely hold — which is why we treat the vein and the wound together.

What does treatment involve?

Fixing the underlying vein (superficial-vein closure or deep-vein stenting), compression, and in-house wound care by our wound-care-trained physician assistants.

How long until it heals?

It varies with the wound and the circulation, but compression and treating the vein meaningfully improve healing. We monitor at each visit and escalate if it is not improving.

Is this the same as a diabetic foot ulcer?

No — diabetic ulcers are driven by nerve damage and often artery disease and sit at pressure points, while venous ulcers sit near the inner ankle. Many wounds are mixed, so we assess for each cause.

Who provides the care?

Our wound-care-trained physician assistants, working with Drs. Matthew Comstock and John Evans.

TREATMENTS WE PERFORM

Venous Ulcer Treatment — Treat the Vein, Heal the Wound

An open wound near the inner ankle that won’t heal is usually driven by a vein problem, not a skin problem. Healing lasts only when the underlying venous pressure is relieved — so we treat the vein and the wound together, in one practice.

Request an Evaluation

Refer a Patient — (918) 943-5303

Why these wounds keep coming back

Venous ulcers form when failing vein valves or a blocked deep vein let pressure build in the lower leg. Dressings alone rarely hold if that pressure isn’t addressed — which is why treating the vein is the key to lasting healing. See the Venous Ulcers condition overview.

How we treat it

Fix the underlying vein — superficial vein closure or deep-vein stenting to relieve the pressure driving the wound. Venous ulcer treatment →
Compression — the foundation of venous ulcer healing, matched to your circulation.
In-house wound care — our wound-care-trained physician assistants manage the wound itself, coordinated with the vein work. Wound care →

When to call us — don’t wait for your next visit

A non-healing wound can change quickly. Call us right away — don’t wait for your next scheduled visit — if you notice any of these:

Call our office today if you notice:

The wound is getting larger or deeper, or draining more
New pain, or pain that is getting worse
New redness, warmth, swelling, or a foul odor — possible infection
New black or darkening tissue, or a new area of skin breaking down

Call our office at (918) 943-5303 and tell us what’s changed — we’ll get you seen sooner, because catching these early often keeps a small problem from becoming a big one.

Go to the emergency room now, or call 911, if you have:

A foot or leg that becomes suddenly cold, pale, numb, or painful
An infection that is spreading quickly, or a fever with a wound

Frequently asked questions

For referring providers — Refer non-healing lower-leg or ankle wounds for venous assessment — we identify and treat the underlying vein problem and co-manage the wound. Refer: (918) 943-5303 · fax (855) 312-3594.

Refer urgently: a wound with spreading infection or increasing pain · Routinely: an ankle-area ulcer not healing after a few weeks of standard care. Full referral guide →

Treat the vein, and the wound can finally close.

Lasting healing starts with the cause. Let’s find and treat it.

Request an Evaluation

(918) 943-5303