title: Retrospective study of hospitalized patients with chronic leg ulcers in Hawaii.
abstract: The authors describe 226 patients with chronic leg ulcers at a community hospital over a 14-year period. Most leg ulcers were ischemic or venous in origin and located below the ankle. Fifty-five percent of patients were diabetic and the majority of patients were hypertensive. The cases required prolonged hospitalization for systemic antibiotics and vascular surgery. Only 2.3% of patients required above the knee amputation, and 7% needed below-the-knee amputation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Straub Clinic and Hospital, Honolulu, Hawaii 96813.
authors.forename: F D
authors.initials: FD
authors.lastname: Pien
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Kistner
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Partsch
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kusumawati
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Osako
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Galagan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000671:Amputation, Surgical; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D005260:Female; D006254:Hawaii; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications; D007511:Ischemia / Q000150:complications; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply; D007871:Leg Ulcer / Q000145:classification / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014689:Venous Insufficiency / Q000150:complications
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents