Venous leg ulcers are the commonest cause of chronic, non-healing ulcers of the leg. They occur in both adult men and women and can take a long time to heal. There are many other causes of chronic leg ulcers and proper evaluation by a doctor is necessary to make the diagnosis.
Causes of venous leg ulcers
The blood supply of the leg consists of blood vessels called veins that return blood from the lower legs to the heart, assisted by valves that ensure that the “one-way” upward flow of blood. In many patients with venous leg ulcers, these valves are not working properly, causing blood to “pool” in the lower legs. This can lead to swelling and darkening of the skin, and eventually to venous leg ulcers.
Risk factors
Some of the risk factors include patients with a past history of a blood clot in the leg veins (deep vein thrombosis), lower leg injury, varicose veins, obesity, smoking and prolonged standing. Patients who have difficulty moving or walking can also get venous leg ulcers because of loss of calf-muscle pump action which is important for venous blood circulation.
Signs and symptoms
Most patients with venous leg disease complain of aching and swelling of their legs, especially at the end of the day. The skin of the leg can turn dark brown or red, or there can be an itchy red rash with scaling and crusting Small or large varicose veins may be seen.
Venous leg ulcers are often located just above the ankle. They are usually wet and weepy, with heavy discharge. They can be painful and tender.
Treatment
Once the diagnosis is confirmed, venous leg ulcers can be effectively treated by good wound care and the use of compression therapy that can improve the venous flow and decrease the swelling of the legs. Compression therapy usually consists of special “elastic” bandages that must be applied by trained medical personnel. The arterial blood supply of the lower limbs must be adequate before compression therapy can be used.
The best way to prevent venous leg disease
Once the leg ulcer is healed, it is important to prevent recurrence by wearing support stockings. It is important to replace the support stockings every 3 to 6 months or once the elasticity of the stockings are worn out. Other important measures include good skin care, regular exercise, and weight management, stopping smoking and leg elevation above the level of the heart when lying down.