There are many causes of leg ulcer development; however, vascular etiology is most commonly involved. Venous or lymphatic causes underlay 80% and arterial or arteriovenous causes 20%-25% of cases. ...Over years, the prevalence of arteriovenous ulcers has increased due to the increased prevalence of peripheral arterial disease. Concerning metabolic reasons, diabetes is the most common underlying disease leading to ulcer formation, whereas calciphylaxis is a very rare one. In addition to the general principles of local ulcer therapy, additional therapy treating the cause of ulcer is necessary. Therapy of leg ulcers is manly interdisciplinary and should include a dermatologist, surgeon, internal medicine specialist, radiologist, general practitioner.
Clinical manifestations of chronic superficial venous insufficiency are described, followed by recommendations for diagnostic evaluation and various treatment possibilities.
Clinical manifestations of chronic superficial venous insufficiency are described, followed by recommendations for diagnostic evaluation and various treatment possibilities.
Debridement is the process of removing dead tissue from the wound bed. Since devitalized tissue can obstruct or completely stop healing of the wound, it is indicated to debride wound bed as part of ...the treatment process. The aim of debridement is to transform a chronic wound into an acute wound and to initiate the process of healing. Debridement is the foundation of each wound treatment and it has to be repeated, depending on the necrotic tissue formation. There are several types of debridement: surgical, autolytic, chemical, enzymatic, mechanical, and biological. Using previous knowledge and advances in technology, new types of debridement have been introduced. Besides standard methods, methods of pulsed lavage debridement (hydro-surgery, water-jet) and ultrasound-assisted wound treatment (UAW) are ever more widely introduced. The method of debridement the clinician will choose depends on the amount of necrotic (devitalized) tissue in the wound bed, the size and depth of the wound, the underlying disease, the possible comorbidity, as well as on the general condition of the patient. Frequently, the methods of debridement are combined in order to achieve better removal of devitalized tissue. Debridement in addition significantly reduces bacterial burden. Regardless of the method of debridement, it is essential to take pain to the lowest point.
Lymphedema resulting from fluid accumulation due to impairment in the lymphatic system drainage leads to enlargement of the body part involved. If left untreated, in its third stage it results in ...elephantiasis. Elephantiasis is frequently accompanied by papillomatosis and lymphocutaneous fistulas with lymphorrhoea, erosions and ulcers, frequently with the loss of function in the respective part of the body. Unlike other chronic wounds, wound healing in lymphedema is highly dependent on the use of combined therapies because local treatment with modern supportive dressings and compression therapy with adhesive and non-adhesive short-stretch systems is only part of the complete treatment. This treatment also includes sub-bandage foamy materials, kinesitherapy with tapes (kinesiotaping), intermittent local application of high-pressure oxygen, breathing exercise, and manual lymph drainage and exercises.
Ulcers of the lower extremities, particularly in individuals older than 65, are a common cause for visits to the dermatologist, primary-care physician, or vascular surgeon. There are many different ...causes of leg ulcers, among which vascular causes are the most frequent. Less commonly, other pathological processes result in leg ulcers. Unfortunately some of them are malignant. Large B-cell lymphoma, leg type, is a malignant lymphoma of intermediate behavior, occurring mostly on the legs in elderly patients. Usually it presents as erythematous or bluish-red nodules or tumors, but ulcerations are not uncommon. When faced with unusual and non-healing ulcers, the physician should also have in mind rarer but more lethal causes.
Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT) is one of the supportive options for chronic wound treatment. The level of negative pressure is between 40 and 125 mm Hg below ambient. Good results in ...increasing angiogenesis, improvement of blood flow in wounds, edema reduction, regulation of moist environment, granulation tissue stimulation and wound retraction have been proved. In addition, bacterial burden in the wound and the amount of harmful products (exotoxins, endotoxins, cytokines and matrix metalloproteinases) are also significantly reduced. Chronic wound healing time is accelerated in comparison with other conservative treatments. The NPWT can be applied in either inpatient or outpatient settings.
Clinical manifestations of chronic superficial venous insufficiency are described, followed by recommendations for diagnostic evaluation and various treatment possibilities.
Chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) is a venous disorder in the lower extremities associated with changes in the skin and subcutaneous tissue. Treatment with short-stretch compression bandages is ...highly recommended for advanced stages of CVI.
The compression systems Rosidal Sys, Porelast, Coban, and Proguide were evaluated in 4 groups of mobile and active patients (n = 18) with CVI stage II or III. Sub-bandage pressures at point B1 were measured in the upright and supine positions 30 min and 12 h after the bandage was applied. Average pressures and values of the static stiffness index (SSI) were calculated for each group.
The Porelast, Rosidal Sys and Coban systems had SSI values in excess of 10 mmHg, 30 min and 12 h after application. The corresponding values for Proguide were below 10 mmHg.
Porelast, Rosidal Sys and Coban are very stiff systems, whereas Proguide is more similar to long-stretch compression bandages with a lower degree of stiffness.
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