Am Fam Physician. 2010;81(8):1003
See related article on venous leg ulcers.
What is a venous leg ulcer?
It is a shallow wound that happens when the veins in your legs are unable to properly pump blood to your heart. This can cause blood to pool inside your legs.
Venous ulcers usually happen in older people. You are more likely to get them if you are a woman, are overweight, or have had a leg injury or blood clot.
How do I know if my wound is a venous ulcer?
Venous ulcers are usually located on the legs, especially on the ankles, and don't heal on their own. The skin around the wound may be discolored, dark, or red. You may also have a dull ache or pain and swelling in your lower legs.
How are they treated?
Venous ulcers are usually treated with bandages or stockings that put pressure on your legs. Some of these are worn all of the time and need to be replaced by a doctor every few days. Others are worn only during the day, and you can put them on and take them off yourself. Your doctor may recommend gels or foams to put under the bandage to help the wound heal.
Sitting or lying down with your leg raised for 30 minutes, three or four times a day, can keep the swelling down. Your doctor may give you medicine to help the blood flow through your legs better.
Where can I get more information?
Your doctor
American Venous Forum
Society for Vascular Surgery
Web site: http://www.vascularweb.org/patients/index.html
