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Medication Effects on Wound and Bone Healing

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In this lecture, Robert G. Smith DPM, MSc, RPh, SrFNAP discusses how patients with wounds and fractures often are provided with pharmacologic interventions for their acute or chronic illnesses. Dr Smith also covers how drugs can either promote wound and bone healing or substantively hinder it; some medications cause wound, bone, or skin reactions. Both wounds and fractures can be slow to heal for several reasons, including a person's age, weight, and nutritional factors or vitamin deficiencies. But a factor that can affect wound and bone healing for anyone is a side-effect of medications. Data indicates that certain medications significantly impair wound and fractured healing and even result in bone, skin and wound damage. Clinicians should have practical knowledge of their patient's medications and certain drug classes to be more aware of the risks associated with the use of these agents. The purpose of this presentation is to first give an overview of both dermal wound healing and bone fracture healing within the scope of podiatric medicine and surgery. Secondly, an appraisal of the possible effects of medications on wounds and fractures are presented based on primary and secondary references. Lastly, two research narratives on medication effects on fracture healing and the effects of smoking as potential drug - anatomy interactions that may influence healing are presented.

CME (Credits: 1.0)

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Learning Objectives:

1. Comprehend the principles of both dermal wound healing and bone fracture healing within the scope of podiatric medicine and surgery.
2. Understand and appraise the possible effects of medications on both dermal wound and bone fracture healing.
3. Analyze the two research articles presented that describe medication effects on fracture healing and smoking as a potential drug causing drug-drug interactions that will influence healing.