Royal Wounds Episode 2: Napoleon, Boots and the Truth About Pressure Ulcers

Dr. G explores how unrelieved pressure — not just diabetes or infection — can destroy tissue, using Napoleon Bonaparte’s chronic foot pain, stiff military boots, and relentless marching as a historical case study. The episode explains how tight footwear, prolonged weight-bearing, cold, and vascular compromise lead to ischemia and pressure ulcers, and why pain, calluses, and blisters are important warning signs. The clinical takeaway: offloading is not optional — it’s treatment. Dr. G outlines modern management steps (assessment, offloading, pressure mapping, vascular referral, custom orthotics, and physical therapy) and shows that wound care requires whole-body thinking, not just local fixes.