Etiology of leg ulcers, healing and recurrence rates in octo- and nonagenarians.
BACKGROUND
A high proportion of leg ulcers refractory to ambulatory compression therapy have a mixed etiology. This study evaluates this mixed etiology and the healing and recurrence rate in octo- and nonagenarians.


METHODS
The study group comprised 101 patients with 119 legs affected by ulcers. Concomitant diseases, ulcer size, healing time and time for the ulcer to recur were documented.


RESULTS
Sixty-four ulcers were of venous origin [healing rate (HR): 45.3%, recurrence rate [(RR): 10.3%], 23 ulcers were complicated by 1 additional disease process (HR: 47.8%, RR: 45.5%), 13 ulcers were complicated by 2 or more concomitant diseases (HR: 46.2%, RR: 16.6%) and 19 ulcers (HR: 26.3%, RR: 20%) were of non-venous origin.


CONCLUSIONS
This study showed that venous reflux in combination with local or systemic disease in our elderly patient group increases the chance of recurrence. Non-venous ulcers appear to have a reduced healing rate possibly due to the underlying pathology.
Fassiadis
N
N
General and Vascular Surgery, Chase Farm Hospital, The Ridgeway, Enfield, Middlesex, UK. nfassiadis@doctors.org.uk
Kapetanakis
E
E
Law
N
N
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001458:Bandages; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007871:Leg Ulcer / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D012008:Recurrence; D016038:Skin Transplantation; D013997:Time Factors; D014945:Wound Healing