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Ulcers as a result of underlying venous disease are the most common aetiology of leg ulceration.
A 2015 study found that there were at least 730,000 patients with leg ulcers in the UK1. This equates to 1.5% of the adult population having a leg ulcer1.
Leg ulcers cause loss of function and require long term care resulting in high financial burden. With the considerable variation in practice increase care costs and extending healing times2.
What is a venous leg ulcer?
A venous leg ulcer is an open, often painful, sore in the skin on the leg below the knee. The ulcers usually develop on the inside of the leg and take more than 2 weeks to heal.
Most common cause:
Venous leg ulcers are caused by venous hypertension, such as chronic venous insufficiency.1,2,3,4
Characteristics:
A venous leg ulcer usually presents as a shallow ulcer with irregular margins and appears over the area of atrophic and/or pigmented skin.