Venous Ulcer
Venous leg ulcers are a serious problem that occurs to individuals with venous disease and vascular issues of the leg. Basically varicose veins that go untreated can result in venous ulcers. This occurs in approximately 20% of all people suffering from varicose veins.
An ulcer (non-healing sore) in the skin refers to a place where the normal skin covering has been wiped away and the (subcutaneous) tissue under the skin shows through. Venous ulcers most commonly occur in the leg between the knee and the foot. Leaking venous valves causing high pressure and abnormal circulation in the tiny vessels of the skin. Ulcers represent a late stage of lower extremity vein disease when the abnormal circulation from long standing reflux in the superficial or other veins causes the skin to become thickened and inflamed and it actually breaks down into an open sore.
Venous ulcers can be different from one person to another. They can be both painful and painless. Not treated properly, a venous ulcer will continue to grow larger until it encircles the leg and causes severe disability, pain and may lead to amputation.
What Causes Venous Ulcers?
Increased pressure of blood in the veins of the lower leg cause fluid to ‘ooze out’ of the veins beneath the skin. This then causes swelling, thickening of the skin and damage to the skin. The damaged skin may eventually break down to form an ulcer.
The increased pressure of blood in the leg veins is due to blood pooling in the smaller veins next to the skin. This pooling occurs because the valves in the larger veins are damaged by a previous thrombosis (blood clot) causing blockage of the vein, or by weakening of the walls of the veins causing the valves to malfunction or become varicose veins. When the valves no longer function properly gravity causes blood to backflow down the leg in the erect individual and pool in the lower leg veins. This produces high pressure in the veins which results in damage to the surrounding tissue and ultimately to skin breakdown and ulceration.
Other Causes of Venous Ulcers Are:
- Vein disease
- Poor circulation from narrowed arteries in the leg
- Problems with nerves that supply the skin
- Severe Trauma to the leg
How Can You Treat Venous Ulcers
Accurate diagnosis or leg ulcers needs to identify the cause of the ulcer and show the specific veins that are malfunctioning and what is wrong with them. Treatment for all leg ulcers requires carefully prescribed elastic stockings or rigid leg coverings. Seeing a wound care specialist is highly recommended. With specific diagnosis and aggressive correction more than half of leg ulcers can be healed well enough to prevent their recurrence.
How Can I Prevent Venous Ulcers?
Prevention of leg ulcers can simply start with treating varicose and spider veins early on. Many of the problems that cause the ulcers such as varicose veins when treated, will prevent the occurrence of ulcers. Sclerotherapy and EVLA procedures for treating varicose and spider veins are a much easier and less invasive procedure than trying to treat venous ulcers.