Leg Ulcers Flashcards
1
Q
What are leg ulcers?
A
Wounds or breaks in the skin that do not heal/heal slowly due to underlying pathology
2
Q
What are the types of leg ulcers?
A
- Venous
- Arterial
- Diabetic foot
- Pressure
3
Q
What causes leg ulcers?
A
Arterial - insufficient blood supply due to peripheral arterial disease
Venous - pooling of blood and waste products in the skin secondary to venous insufficiency
4
Q
How do arterial ulcers present?
A
- Usually on toes or dorsum of foot
- Associated with PAD: absent pulses, intermittent claudication
- Smaller and deeper than venous
- Well defined borders
- Pale colour due to poor blood supply
- Painful, especially at night
5
Q
How does venous ulcers present?
A
- Occur between top of foot and bottom of calf
- Occur after minor injury to the leg
- Larger but more superficial than arterial
- Irregular, gently sloping border
- More likely to bleed
- Less painful than arterial
6
Q
What investigations should be done for ulcers?
A
- ABPI to assess for arterial disease
- Blood tests to assess for infection
- Charcoal swabs if infection suspected
7
Q
How are arterial ulcers managed?
A
- Urgent referral to vascular to consider surgical revascularisation
8
Q
How are venous ulcers managed?
A
- Good cleaning, debridement and dressing of the wound
- Compression therapy used after excluding arterial
- Analgesia and Abx if infection
- May need referral for complex/non-healing ulcers, if painful
