Wound Care Facts & Statistics
Key numbers about chronic wounds in the United States, drawn from Medicare data, federal health agencies, and clinical guidelines — followed by common myths, corrected.
The numbers
About 10.5 million Medicare beneficiaries live with a wound
An analysis of 2019 Medicare claims found that roughly 10.5 million beneficiaries — about 1 in 6 — had at least one chronic wound or wound-related infection in a single year, up 13% from 2014. Chronic wounds are far more common than most families realize.
Wound care costs Medicare an estimated $22–$97 billion per year
A landmark analysis of 2014 Medicare claims estimated total annual spending on wound care at between $28.1 billion and $96.8 billion, depending on how costs are attributed; the 2023 follow-up analysis of 2019 data placed the conservative estimate at $22.5 billion. Either way, wounds cost more than many well-known chronic diseases.
Up to 34% of people with diabetes will develop a foot ulcer
The lifetime risk of a diabetic foot ulcer is estimated at 19–34% for people living with diabetes. Regular foot checks and early specialist care substantially reduce the risk of complications.
A wound unhealed after 30 days is considered chronic
The wound care literature defines a chronic wound as one that has failed to proceed through an orderly and timely healing process — in practice, a wound that has not shown meaningful progress after about 4 weeks of standard care. That 30-day mark is the widely used signal to involve a wound care specialist.
Source: Frykberg & Banks, “Challenges in the Treatment of Chronic Wounds,” Advances in Wound Care, 2015
Most diabetes-related amputations begin with a foot ulcer
In the classic study of pathways to diabetic limb loss, roughly 85% of diabetes-related lower-limb amputations were preceded by a foot ulcer — which is why treating ulcers early and aggressively matters so much.
More than 2.5 million U.S. patients develop pressure injuries each year
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality estimates that more than 2.5 million people in the United States develop pressure injuries (bedsores) annually, most often patients with limited mobility in facilities or at home.
Medicare Part B covers medically necessary wound care at home
Physician and nurse practitioner services delivered in a patient's home — including debridement and application of skin substitutes — are covered under Medicare Part B when medically necessary, billed with the same outpatient codes used in clinics.
Venous leg ulcers are the most common leg ulcer
Venous disease accounts for the majority of lower-leg ulcers. Compression therapy remains the evidence-based cornerstone of treatment, alongside wound bed preparation by a trained clinician.
Source: O’Meara et al., “Compression for venous leg ulcers,” Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2012
Common myths, corrected
Myth: A wound that isn't painful isn't serious.
False. Nerve damage from diabetes (peripheral neuropathy) can remove the feeling of pain entirely, which is exactly why diabetic foot ulcers often go unnoticed until they are deep or infected. Any open wound that is not healing deserves medical attention, painful or not.
Myth: Wounds heal best when left open to 'air out.'
False. Decades of research show most wounds heal faster in a moist, covered environment managed with the right dressing. Leaving a wound uncovered dries out new tissue and raises infection risk.
Myth: If a wound hasn't healed in a few months, nothing more can be done.
False. Stalled wounds often respond to specialist interventions such as debridement, offloading, compression, negative pressure therapy, or skin substitutes. Many wounds that have been open for months can still close with the right treatment plan.
Myth: You have to go to a hospital or wound clinic to get advanced wound care.
False. Licensed physicians and nurse practitioners can deliver hospital-grade wound care — including sharp debridement and application of skin substitutes — at the bedside in a home, assisted living community, or skilled nursing facility, covered by Medicare Part B when medically necessary.
Myth: Bedsores are unavoidable for people who are bedbound.
Mostly false. While some patients are at very high risk, most pressure injuries can be prevented with regular repositioning, pressure-relieving surfaces, skin checks, and good nutrition. Early-stage injuries caught quickly usually heal well.
Myth: Amputation is inevitable once a diabetic foot ulcer gets bad.
False. Timely specialist care — infection control, restoring blood flow, offloading, and advanced therapies — prevents many amputations. The single most important factor is getting expert treatment early instead of waiting.
Concerned about a wound that isn't healing?
Licensed physicians and nurse practitioners provide advanced wound care in the home across California and Nevada. Medicare Part B accepted.