Venous ulcers

Question 1

Venous ulcers?

Answer 1

Large, shallow, sometimes painful ulcers usually found superior to the media malleoli, they are caused by incompetent valves in the lower limbs leading to venous stasis and ulceration.

Question 2

Venous ulcers media malleoli?

Answer 2

Question 3

Venous ulcers aetiology?

Answer 3

Valve incompetence leads to venous stasis and increased venous pressure.

Question 4

Venous ulcers risk factors (6)?

Answer 4

obesity, immobility, recurrent DVT, varicose veins, previous injury/surgery to leg, age.

Question 5

Venous ulcers epidemiology?

Answer 5

very common

Question 6

Venous ulcers symptoms?

Answer 6

Large, shallow, relatively painless ulcer with an irregular margin situated above the medial malleoli (most of the time). Symptoms of venous insufficiency; swelling, itching, aching.

Question 7

Venous ulcers signs?

Answer 7

described in symptoms, can have stasis eczema, lipodermatosclerosis, haemosiderin deposition.

Question 8

Venous ulcers investigations (3)?

Answer 8

ABPI (exclude arterial ulcer),

measure surface area for monitoring,

microbiology swabs for infection

Question 9

Venous ulcers management (4)?

Answer 9

Graduated compression (reduced venous stasis),

debridement and cleaning,

antibiotics,

topical steroids.

Question 10

Venous ulcers complications?

Answer 10

recurrence, infection.

Question 11

lipodermatosclerosis?

Answer 11

Question 12

haemosiderin deposition?

Answer 12