Leg ulcer

• Etiology
  • Chronic venous disease
  • Peripheral artery disease
  • Neuropathic ulcer
    • Diabetes
  • Decubitus
  • Trauma
  • Infections
  • Dermatoses (SLE, pyoderma gangrenosum)
  • Neoplastic
• Morphology
  • Venous ulcer
    • Above the ankle
    • Mild pain
      • Pain improves when raising leg
    • Shallow ulcer
  • Arterial ulcer
    • Punched-out well-defined ulcer
    • Pressure points of the legs (malleolus, toes)
    • Severe pain
      • Pain worsens when raising leg
• Treatment
  • Underlying disease
  • Surgical
    • Irrigation
    • Debridement
      • Removal of dead, damaged or infected tissue
    • Wet dressing
    • Skin grafting
  • Local therapy
    • Wound healing
    • Compression
  • Treating adjacent skin