What is a leg ulcer? A
leg ulcer can be anywhere on the leg but is generally situated between the toes and mid-calf area. A leg ulcer is a type of wound that generally takes more than 6 weeks to heal. Are there different types of leg ulcers? Yes. The two
commonest types of leg ulcer are venous (diseases of the veins) and arterial (diseases of the arteries). The third type of leg ulcer is a diabetic ulcer which is similar in many ways to an arterial ulcer. What causes leg ulcers? Leg ulcers
can occur through injury or because of an incompetence in the blood supply to the lower limbs caused by:
- Diseases of the veins
- Diseases of the arteries
- Diabetes
- Diseases or infections of the blood
- Increased pressure in the venous system such as varicose veins
- Inflammatory diseases e.g. arthritis
How will I know what has caused my leg ulcer? An initial assessment will be done by either a doctor or district nurse
to determine your general state of health taking into account any health problems you might already have and investigations such as blood tests, blood pressure checks on the arms and legs (doppler test) and
general appearance of the wound may be performed to help to determine the cause of the ulcer.
What will the treatment be once the cause is discovered? A dressing will be applied to the ulcer but the healing of a wound is
dependent on many factors not just on the type of dressing used. The purpose of the dressing is to:
- Provide the optimum environment for the wound to heal itself
- To keep the wound as clean as possible
- To combat any localised infection that might be evident in the wound and is delaying
healing
- To keep the nerve endings in the wound moist thus reducing pain and discomfort
The choice of dressing used is up to the experienced practitioner and progress monitored.
I've been told I have MRSA in my wound - what is MRSA? MRSA is a type of bacterial infection which may persist for some
time .To find out more click this button for an information sheet which you can print
and keep. |