Skin Ulcers

Question 1

leg ulcer definition

Answer 1

open lesion between the knee and the ankle joint that remains unhealed for at least 4 weeks

Question 2

what percentage of ulcers are venous

Answer 2

60-80%

Question 3

what is the UK prevalence of leg ulcers

Answer 3

0.1-0.3%

Question 4

what could be some factors contributing to delayed healing

Answer 4

diabetes, anaemia, infection

Question 5

pmh relevant to VENOUS ulcer

Answer 5

DVT, varicose veins, orthopaedic surgery on that leg

Question 6

history/conditions relevant to ARTERIAL ulcer

Answer 6

diabetes, smoker, ischaemic heart disease, cerebrovascular disease

Question 7

pain at night is characteristic of which type of leg ulcer?

Answer 7

arterial

Question 8

what would the rest of the leg be like in an ARTERIAL leg ulcer

Answer 8

pale and cold

Question 9

is lipodermatosclerosis due to venous or arterial insufficiency?

Answer 9

venous

Question 10

treatment for venous dermatitis

Answer 10

topical steroids

Question 11

typical location of a venous ulcer

Answer 11

ankle and gaiter area, medial malleolus

Question 12

typical location of an arterial ulcer

Answer 12

feet/toes

Question 13

arterial ulcer appearance

Answer 13

small, well-defined, punched out, sometimes can see underlying structures

Question 14

what is the main investigation for a leg ulcer

Answer 14

ABPI

Question 15

What is a normal ABPI

Answer 15

1

Question 16

ABPI <0.8

Answer 16

arterial

Question 17

what is the main point of doing ABPI

Answer 17

to find out if the ulcer is an arterial problem

Question 18

when do you do a wound swab of the leg ulcer

Answer 18

ulcers showing CLINICAL signs of infection

Question 19

necrobiosis lipoidica

Answer 19

disease of collagen degeneration, thin atrophic skin that can ulcerate easily

Question 20

what is pyoderma gangrenosum

Answer 20

condition that causes large painful ulcers, exact cause unknown but suspected autoimmune

Question 21

pyoderma gangrenosum treatment

Answer 21

topical steroids

Question 22

what is vasculitis

Answer 22

a group of disorders in which there is inflammation of the blood vessels.

Question 23

what do vasculitis skin lesions look like

Answer 23

purpuric rash

Question 24

what is the most important treatment for venous ulcer

Answer 24

4 layer compression bandaging

Question 25

ulcer debridement methods

Answer 25

sharp, dressings (e.g. hydrogel or honey), larvae

Question 26

how many weeks do we aim to heal venous ulcer in

Answer 26

12

Question 27

how long should patients wear compression stockings for after their venous ulcer has healed

Answer 27

life