[Role of elastic compression in the treatment of postphlebitic leg ulcers at the University Hospital of Dakar: report of 20 cases].
Varicose disease and venous thrombosis were reputed exceptional among black africans and almost all leg ulcers were called "tropical". We have treated 20 cases of postphlebitic ulcers in the teaching hospital of Dakar between march 1989 and december 1992. There were 12 men and 8 women. Mean age was 40 years (24 to 60 years). The initial venous thrombosis dated at mean 8 +/- 3 years. It was confirmed in a hospital in 10 cases and found in the medical history of all patients. All patients presented leg ulcers with non systematised venous varicose and trophic troubles. The ulcers treated only by dressings lasted a duration of 4 months (2 weeks to 9 months) without healing. In view of this failure we have added an ambulatory elastic contention with elastic bandage putted on at hospital after that biweekly dressing until cicatrisation followed by putting elastic socking with degressive compression. We have observed a quickly cicatrisation in mean time of 4 weeks (2 to 6 weeks) with good tolerance of socking. Only 3 patients showed recurrence. Elastic contention has a great place in the treatment of postphlebitic ulcers which are not that exceptional among black Africans.
Diarra
O
O
Unité de Chirurgie Thoracique et Cardiovascuire-Cinique Chiurgicale du CHU de Dakar-BP 6308 Dakar-Etoile, Senegal.
Ba
M
M
Fall
B
B
Deme
A
A
Kane
A
A
Ndiaye
M
M
Diop
A
A
D000328:Adult; D001458:Bandages; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007871:Leg Ulcer / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010689:Phlebitis / Q000150:complications; D012675:Senegal; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000150:complications