Treatment For Leg Ulcers

When most people have an injury to their legs, it will heal up without difficulty within two weeks. The body’s immune system fights off any type of infection from a break in the skin of the leg, and the body will regenerate skin tissue to close up the injury. However, A leg ulcer occurs when a simple break in the skin of the leg allows air and bacteria to get into the underlying tissue. For those with venous disease, arterial disease, diabetes, or rheumatoid arthritis, even a minor cut in the skin can lead to a leg ulcer.

The most common cause for leg ulcers is the disease of the veins of the leg. The first thing to remember from biology class all those years ago is that arteries carry blood away from the heart, and veins carry blood back to the heart. The veins in the leg are like one-way tubes that carry blood from the foot back towards the heart. All veins have one-way valves that are supposed to make sure that the blood flows up the leg and not back down. In people with venous disease, the valves are either not effective, or they have been damaged by thrombosis (clots) in the veins. If valves are damaged or are not working correctly, blood can flow the wrong direction within the veins. This misdirection of blood flow will result in very high pressure in the veins, damaging the skin and leading to leg ulcers.

Treatment for leg ulcers happens in two ways:

• Controlling the high pressure in the leg veins
• Treatment of the ulcer

The easiest way to control the pressure in the leg veins is to elevate the leg. The higher the leg, the lower the pressure. While sitting or lying, the foot should be elevated above the heart so that the pressure can drop down to a normal level. While this is easy, it is not always feasible to sit or lie down for extended periods.

Compression stockings and bandages are commonly used to control the pressure in the leg veins. Compression stockings or bandages should be worn at all times to keep the pressure in the leg veins at the ankle low while standing. After an ulcer has healed, compression stockings are still {typically} necessary to prevent the ulcer from returning.

Board Certified Vascular and Endovascular Surgeon, Dr. Alan I. Benvenisty, MD, holds a particular interest in minimally invasive treatments for numerous vascular conditions, including leg ulcers. If you are suffering from symptoms associated with venous disease, contact Dr. Benvenisty today.