6: Leg ulcers Flashcards
What is a chronic leg ulcer?
Break in the skin below the knee which hasn’t healed in 4 weeks
Why may the skin break below the knee?
Insect bite
Trauma
Scratching
Most leg ulcers are (arterial / venous).
Venous
How are venous leg ulcers treated?
Compression leggings
Which chronic inflammatory disease can be responsible for leg ulcers?
Rheumatoid arthritis
Which endocrine disease is common in patients with leg ulcers?
Diabetes
The prevalence of leg ulcers increases with ___.
age
Most leg ulcers are cared for in (primary/secondary) care.
primary care
What are some symptoms of leg ulcers which can impair a patient’s quality of life?
Pain
Leakage
Smell
> Infection
> Ostracised
In only which situation should antibiotics be used to treat leg ulcers?
Infection
Should compression socks be used in someone with arterial disease?
No
Apart from venous and arterial, what types of leg ulcer can you get?
Mixed
Vasculitic
Malignant
Inflammatory
“Hydrostatic” in bedridden patients
Why is it important to ask about medication in a history of a patient with leg ulcers?
Immunosuppressors slow down healing
Oral prednisolone does the same
Nicorandil - ??
What aspects of a social history are important in assessing a patient with leg ulcers?
Smoker?
Occupation - people on feet all day
Mobility
Sleep disturbance
What analgesic drugs should be given to patients with painful leg ulcers?
Paracetamol
Codeine - causes constipation
What questions should be asked about pain in a patient with leg ulcers?
Just moving or at rest?
How is it in bed?
Adaptive behaviour e.g hanging legs out of bed
What are cutaneous signs of venous disease?
Varicose veins
Haemosiderin stains - brown stains due to breakdown of Hb
Blue feet - due to DISTENDED veins, not ischaemia