Venous ulcer – What is it and how is it treated?

Vascular diseases can be associated with some unpleasant side effects. One of them can be leg ulcers that develop in the skin surrounding the leg vein.

Leg ulcers are wounds that do not heal on their own. They can get progressively worse, putting you at severe risk for different skin and bone infections. Getting to know the symptoms can help you seek immediate treatment and prevent further complications.

Venous leg ulcers

Venous leg ulcers are the most prevalent lower extremity ulcer and accounts for close to 70% of all leg ulcers. In our legs there are valves in the veins that keep the blood flowing, in one direction, upwards towards our heart. When these valves turn weak and faulty, blood can flow backwards to your leg leading to a condition called, venous insufficiency. When tissue break down and blood starts pooling in your leg the veins may start to swell.

As venous pressure increases, fluids start to flow out of the veins. Skin and surrounding tissues gradually break down causing ulcers to develop. When leg ulcers are formed, you may experience swelling and heaviness in your legs.

When venous insufficiency occurs, it may cause many other symptoms before ulcers are formed.

Venous stasis dermatitis or eczema: Dermatitis is often the first manifestation of venous insufficiency and needs to be addressed properly. Skin around your ankles may turn yellowish, brownish, or reddish. Sores may be formed that ooze, or look scaly.

Hyperpigmentation: ?Dramatic changes in skin pigmentation usually indicate that venous insufficiency has progressed. You may notice that significant areas of the skin in your legs have turned darker or the skin on your legs, feet, and ankles may turn reddish- brown which is suggestive of the need to seek immediate medical care.

Lipodermatosclerosis: It refers to changes in the skin of lower legs. Though the exact cause is still unknown, it may be related to vein abnormalities and approximately two- thirds of affected people are obese. Different symptoms exist which include leg pain or swelling, thickening/ hardening of skin, skin discoloration or leg ulcers.

Treatment of venous leg ulcers

Venous ulcer treatment involves controlling the high pressure developed in the leg veins and treating the sores.

Dressing the ulcer and compression bandages

First step of treatment is to remove the dead tissues around the sores and applying a suitable dressing. Appropriate re-dressing at proper intervals is necessary which provides the best conditions for the ulcer to heal. Infected ulcers may be administered antibiotics to prevent further complications.

Specially designed compression bandages need to be applied over the affected leg to improve the circulation in your legs and eliminate any swelling developed. Compression using four layered bandaging is the mainstay of treatment for venous leg ulcers.

Minimally invasive treatment alternatives

Endovenous ablation, a minimally invasive technique, is found very effective in treatment of venous ulcers. Ablation, or heating process, usually takes less than 10 minutes and involves injecting medicines into the skin along the vein to be treated and heating the deceased veins with radio waves or laser.

New studies suggests that these minimally invasive methods are as effective as traditional open venous stripping procedure as ulcer healing and recurrence rates are found similar to those of patients treated with surgical stripping.

For more information on treatment options call vascular experts at Avis vascular center.