Wed, Jan 28, 2026 at 12:00 AM

Wound physician panel advises seniors on healing chronic sores and avoiding amputations

For two decades, local doctors have been the antidote for patients with wounds that won’t heal on their own. From cancer patients with radiation burns to diabetics with complex sores and others with pressure ulcers, treatment at the Marshall Wound Healing Center can restore their health in a matter of weeks. A panel of doctors from the center recently spoke on the topic of wounds to a crowd of seniors at a GoldCare55+ Lunch N Learn meeting.

“Marshall Medical was the first in North Alabama to have a Wound Center,” said Dr. Alex Nixon, medical director of the facility. “The big idea of using a wound center is having a variety of physicians. We use a holistic approach. In over 20 years of doing that here, we’re gotten pretty good at it.”

Chronic wounds are those that last three to four weeks without healing on their own.

“Untreated wounds can put you in the hospital,” said Wound Center Director Sabrina Cassels. “They can become septic. They can lead to amputation. That’s what we are here to prevent.”

Dr. Stephen Britt warned that diabetics are particularly prone to wounds on their feet and legs. Those need prompt medical attention because they can quickly become infected and cause the loss of a limb.

“An amputation is a life-changing thing,” he said.

Many wounds can be improved by spending time in Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy. HBO is a highly effective, safe treatment in which 100 percent oxygen is inhaled by a patient for short periods of time in a pressurized chamber, which the Wound Center has on site.

“More often than not, it’s successful,” Dr. Britt said.

Wounds are very common and shouldn’t be ignored.

“We all have bacteria,” said Dr. John Groves. “When it becomes overwhelming is when it’s time to treat it.”

Many factors affect the body’s ability to heal itself. One is aging.

“Healing definitely slows down with age,” Dr. Britt said. That’s because blood flow worsens, the immune system is less effective and nutrition changes. He advised consuming protein to re-form collagen and tissue.

Also vulnerable to slow healing are cancer patients. Chemotherapy is designed to kill rapidly dividing cells, which is exactly what is needed to heal sores. And their nutrition suffers with diminished appetite.

“Cancer patients are definitely at an increased risk for developing chronic and non-healing wounds,” said Dr. Donald Martin.

He also cautioned listeners not to be sedentary, urging them to take a brisk 20-minute walk every day. He pointed out that waist size increases the risk of diabetes and that amputation raises the mortality rate.

“Preventing diabetes is your best bet,” he urged.

The Marshall Wound Healing Center can be contacted directly by patients or by their physician. Cassels said most patients need to be seen once a week for optimal healing. Most of the time, a patient will be treated on the same day by the same nurse and doctor each visit.

The Marshall Wound Healing Center is located in the Marshall Professional Building in Albertville and can be reached by calling 256.894.6976. Hours of operation are Monday – Friday 8:00 am - 4:00 pm.