Venous Leg Ulcers

Venous leg ulcers are the most common form of leg ulcer. While there are many rare causes of ulcerations that can occur from knee to the toes, the overview provided herein gives the practitioner guidance on how to evaluate a patient presenting with a leg ulcer and care for and heal the venous ulcer and information about other more common types of ulcers that are in the differential diagnosis. Fortunately, history and physical examination can help determine, with some confirmatory tests, the type of ulcer. Nevertheless, the essentials of wound healing remain the same for the large majority of ulcers on the lower extremities. Healing will hasten if treatment of all leg ulcers includes assuring adequate perfusion; removing nonviable tissue; reducing inflammation and eliminating infection, relieving edema; optimizing tissue growth; off-loading or providing pressure relief; controlling pain; and treating host systemic disease or conditions such as diabetes and nutrition.