Despite what many people think, Dr. Olukayode Iyun has stated that wounds are a major issue in Nigeria because 25 percent of patients seen as surgical outpatients at University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, do so for wounds.
Dr Iyun, who spoke in a Continued Medical Education lecture of the Oyo State Nigeria Medical Association entitled “Understanding the Language of Wounds: Time to Heal,” said at least one new patient with leg wounds is seen at the hospital’s surgical outpatient wound clinic per week.
Iyun, a consultant plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgeon, said the causes of wounds are many but not all wounds will heal, depending on their cause and if there is a good blood supply to the part of the body with the wound.
“So a wound that does not have adequate blood supply will not heal. Also, wounds from conditions like cancer will not heal. Of course, a wound’s healing time reduces if the person is generally very ill or malnourished,” he added.
Dr Iyun asked Nigerians to stop the use of hydrogen peroxide, engine oil, brake fluid, and antibiotic powders in the treatment of wounds, saying these products are inappropriate and disturb effective wound healing.
The wound care expert declared: “For wound dressing, you can use propidon iodine; it works better; it pains less. As much as possible, wound dressing should not be an unpleasant experience. And the only way you can make it not an unpleasant experience is by ensuring that there is no pain by the use of an aesthetic agent over the area.”
The expert, however, said the cost of materials for appropriate wound care is expensive and called for innovations of wound care products for bigger wounds as seen in Nigeria and to ensure scars from wounds are prevented in Nigeria.
Read Also: Gani Adams rejects Sharia Law in Southwest
According to him, Nigeria needs to also develop standardised wound care guidelines and policies to ensure that across the country, quality wound care for all and wounds heal in a shorter time.
He emphasised public safety measures on the road and at work, saying prevention of wounds is important.
He said: “In this year alone, 3 weeks out of 4 weeks in January, we have had tanker explosions. You can imagine how many road traffic accidents we have had and how many people would have been injured. So it is a problem.
“Fortunately, probably a number of them may be minor. But those minor wounds, if they are not treated properly, become chronic wounds. I’ve seen somebody who has kept a wound for 50 years, and all they need is appropriate wound care, and it heals.”
Chairman at the occasion, Professor Jesse Otegbayo, in his remarks, said the power of observation is important in wound management because whether the wound appears yellow, black, or red will inform the steps to take to ensure appropriate wound care.
Oyo State Nigerian Medical Association chairman Dr Happi Adedapo said the increase in cases of burn injuries due to tanker explosions, gas cylinder and domestic accidents lately in Nigeria informed the CME to train and retrain healthcare providers on time management of wounds.
