‘Venous leg ulcer’ is the medical term for an open wound on the lower leg caused by a chronic venous disease. It is defined as stage 5 (healed venous leg ulcer) and stage 6 (active venous leg ulcer) according to an internationally accepted standard for describing patients with chronic venous disease (CEAP classification system).
What is a venous leg ulcer?
What causes a venous leg ulcer?
A venous leg ulcer is the most severe stage of chronic venous insufficiency. Patients with chronic venous insufficiency have non-working vein valves that cause a pooling of venous blood in the legs. The increased pressure and fluid accumulation (swelling) also compromise the supply of oxygen and nutrients to the skin and underlying tissue and activate an inflammatory response.
Although venous leg ulcers can occur in everyone with non-treated or inadequately treated chronic venous insufficiency, the following conditions increase the risk for developing venous leg ulcers:
- Older age
- Smoking
- Obesity
- Previous injuries, such as broken bones, or surgery to the leg
- Varicose veins or deep vein thrombosis
- Immobility or low physical activity
Ulcers can also be caused by other conditions, such as impaired arterial blood flow, diabetes, autoimmune diseases, traumatic injuries, or tumors.
Symptoms of a venous leg ulcer
A venous leg ulcer can present as follows:
- Open wound that mainly occurs below the knee, especially around the inner ankle
- Swelling, cramping, heaviness and general discomfort in the legs or ankles
- Reddish, dry and itchy skin
- Discolored skin (red, purple, brown) that may feel slightly hard around the ulcer
- In the event of infection: increased pain, unpleasant odor, discharge emitting from the ulcer, redness and swelling in the affected area
Venous leg ulcers require specialized care, including regular wound dressing changes. Many patients also suffer from recurrent venous leg ulcers. All this can significantly impact the quality of life. Therefore, immediate treatment is essential.
How to treat a venous leg ulcer
Compression therapy is a very important part of treating a venous leg ulcer and should be applied in combination with appropriate wound care products. Cutimed provides a wide range of wound care products to face the challenges of chronic wounds such as infections, odor and weeping.
Wearing compression bandages or compression stockings improves the venous return to the heart and increases the chances of healing. JOBST® UlcerCare is a 2-in-1 compression system including a liner to hold the wound dressing in place and an outer stocking to provide the required level of compression. Before applying the JOBST UlcerCare compression system, the edema has to be reduced by compression bandaging with short-stretch bandages, such as JOBST Comprilan or JOBST Compri2.
Clinical evidence
Compression bandages or stockings versus no compression for treating venous leg ulcers1
Patient population
1.391 patients with venous leg ulcers
Duration of venous leg ulcer: 9.0 weeks to 31.6 month
Size of venous leg ulcer: 5 - 20 cm2
Outcome of compression therapy
Compression therapy has the potential to1:
Heal venous leg ulcers more quickly and complete ulcer heading is more likely
Reduce pain
Improve disease-specific aspects of quality of life
How to prevent a venous leg ulcer
Preventing a venous leg ulcer requires appropriate treatment of the underlying condition, chronic venous insufficiency. There are several ways to help prevent developing a venous leg ulcer:
- Wearing compression stockings
- Maintaining a healthy weight
- Exercising regularly
- Elevating your leg when possible
- Stop smoking
