Leg ulceration in the sickle cell patient.
BACKGROUND
The purpose of this study was to determine cost of care for leg ulcers in sickle cell patients and suggest an improved modality in ulcer care.


METHODS
We performed a retrospective study of a group of sickle cell disease patients with leg ulcers.


RESULTS
Eighteen patients with a leg ulcer (duration: mean, 53.7 months), sickle cell disease, and a mean of 20.7 years of age had various modalities of treatment with the only consistency in healing being a commercial moist-wound dressing.


CONCLUSIONS
There is no consistency in the treatment of the sickle cell patient with a leg ulcer. Treatment with a moist dressing had the best results.
Cackovic
M
M
St. Luke's Hospital, Bethlehem, PA, USA.
Chung
C
C
Bolton
L L
LL
Kerstein
M D
MD
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000755:Anemia, Sickle Cell / Q000150:complications*; D001120:Arginine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D047070:Bandages, Hydrocolloid; D002087:Butyrates / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003102:Colloids; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D017721:Hospital Costs; D006801:Humans; D007871:Leg Ulcer / Q000191:economics / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000191:economics; D008297:Male; D009779:Occlusive Dressings / Q000191:economics*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology
D002087:Butyrates; D003102:Colloids; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D004921:Erythropoietin; D001120:Arginine; C033018:arginine butyrate