What is Tunneling in a Wound?
Tunneling in a wound is the creation of spaces or tracks beneath the wound’s surface where there is a loss of tissue. This can occur commonly in stage III or IV pressure ulcers. It can also occur in other wounds such as diabetic foot ulcers. Tunneling can lead to prolonged healing of the wound. The wound may be much larger under the surface than what it appears to be when just inspecting the outer wound.
A sterile Q-Tip is usually placed into the wound bed and used to determine if there are tunneling tracts or sinuses in the deeper parts of the wound. The tracts or sinuses are measured to determine the amount of tunneling. This is used to measure wound progress with each dressing change and determine the appropriate wound treatment used.
Tunneling is usually a result of infection in the wound bed, prolonged pressure on the soft tissues, and sometimes the result of an infected foreign body being present in the wound. Removing the contributing factors can help prevent further tunneling and healing of the wound.
At Mobile Wound Care MD, we are experienced with treating these types of wounds and understand how to best care for these wounds to ensure that the wound heals quickly.
By Dr. Leah Dill
Dr. Leah Dill, a native of Forestburg, Texas, earned her bachelor's degree in Biology from the University of North Texas. As a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine at Total Wellness and Bariatrics, she is dedicated to providing holistic, whole-person care.
With extensive expertise in wound care, Dr. Dill specializes in chronic wounds and holds a certification from the National Alliance of Wound Care and Ostomy. She brings over 14 years of surgical experience to her practice, demonstrating tremendous compassion and commitment to her patients' total wellness.
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