leg ulcers Flashcards
define chronic leg ulcer
an open lesion between knee and foot that remains unhealed for more than 4 weeks
what are some causes of leg ulcers?
venous disease/arterial/ mixed disease malignancy vasculitis rheumatic diabetic
where do venous ulcers appear
gator area
where to diabetic ulcers present
foot and areas of pressure sores (heels)
appearance of a venous ulcer
varicose veins
sandy beach, soft edges
haemosiderin
lipodermatosclerosis
appearance of arterial ulcer
deep, punched out, may see bone/tendon cold, pale, hairless leg no peripheral pulses necrobiosis lipodica pyoderma gangerosum
when should you swab an ulcer?
if paitient is clinically unwell/signs of infection
enlarging/smelly/painful/exudate
should you compress an arterial ulcer?
no
how long should an ulcer be healed
12 weeks, or reassess and consider malignancy (SCC/BCC)
an ABPI of <0.8 indicates
vascular disease
an ABPI of >1.5 indicated
calcification
an ABPI of 1.0 is normal
true
normal range for ABPI
0.8 - 1.3
gold standard for treating leg ulcer?
4 layer cone shaped compression bandage and non-adherent dressing
raise leg above hip level
de-sloughing agents?
hydrogel
honey
maggot larvae
