Leg ulcers

A Leg Ulcer is simply open wounds on the leg through which bacteria can make soft tissue infection. In case, if a complete treatment is not given, then these can even reoccur to cause discomfort.

Reasons for Leg Ulcers:

Venous insufficiency, stasis and personal history of deep vein thrombosis
Lower limb ischemia, due to the poor circulation
Diabetes, due to peripheral neuropathy (sensory and motor) and diabetic angiopathy
Post-traumatic
Lower limb lymphedema
Pressure injury (heels and ankle in bedridden patient)
Burn
Autoimmune diseases (such as scleroderma, rheumatoid arthritis vasculitis)

As a matter of fact, more than two-thirds of leg ulcers are a result of Venous Disease. To get a clear understanding of a patient’s leg ulcer, the doctor will diagnose and conduct the required tests to offer the best care.

Venous stasis can take place due to inappropriate functioning of the veins that are present in the legs. Basically, when these veins fail to push back the blood upwards to the heart, this condition takes place. Further, it is this blood that contributes to the building pressure which if not treated can increase the level of the same. And, also excess fluid can be formed in the affected area that can lead to a venous ulcer. Commonly, a venous ulcer is found above the ankle area of the leg and this can be slow to heal.

Symptoms of Venous Ulcers:

Swelling in leg followed by heaviness
Itching sensation
Pain in the leg where the skin surrounding the ulcer will either be shiny, tight or discolored

Ischemic Ulcer also known as Arterial ulcers are quite painful. Commonly, these occur on the foot in the lower part of the leg or around the ankle. In some cases, it has been observed that pain gets worse at night and also become prone to infection. Many of these ulcers are non-healing which will require urgent treatment to boost the blood supply to the ulcer. As when the circulation is good, the pain will also reduce and ulcer also starts healing.

Symptoms of Ischemic Ulcer:

Probabilities are that the limb will feel cold when they are touched.
Hair loss at the affected area.
The area of the base color can turn red if dangled.
Additionally delayed capillary return in the affected area is yet another sign.

In order to treat such ulcer, taking a few preventive measures can help. Precisely, quitting to smoke, effectively managing blood pressure, glucose levels and cholesterol. Also, you should avoid sitting with legs crossed and exercise frequently.

The treatment of the legs ulcer could be different in according with the different disease. it involves different approaches such as debridement and the use of the advanced dressing, the Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT), surgical procedure using different kind of dermal substitutes (Human amnion/chorion membrane, hyaluronic acid ester matrix, naturally-occuring urinary bladder matrix or matrix of fiber of cross-linked bovine tendon collagen) and Platelet rich Plasma (PRP).