title: Management of leg ulcers.
abstract: Leg ulcer is a leading cause of morbidity among older subjects, especially women in the Western world. About 400 years BC, Hippocrates wrote, "In case of an ulcer, it is not expedient to stand, especially if the ulcer be situated on the leg". Hippocrates himself had a leg ulcer. The best treatment of any leg ulcer depends upon the accurate diagnosis and the underlying aetiology. The majority of leg ulcers are due to venous disease and/or arterial disease, but the treatment of the underlying cause is far more important than the choice of dressing. The aetiology, pathogenesis, treatment, and the future trends in the management of the leg ulcers are discussed in this review.
authors.affiliation: City Hospital NHS Trust, Dudley Road, Birmingham B18 7QH, UK.
authors.forename: P K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Sarkar
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ballantyne
mesh_terms: D017130:Angioplasty / Q000379:methods; D001157:Arterial Occlusive Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy; D001458:Bandages; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017719:Diabetic Foot / Q000628:therapy; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006931:Hyperbaric Oxygenation; D007871:Leg Ulcer / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D011187:Posture; D012307:Risk Factors; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000379:methods; D014689:Venous Insufficiency / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D003879:Dermatologic Agents