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Pain in chronic leg ulcers
Maristela Lopes Gonçalves1, Vera Lúcia Conceição de Gouveia Santos, Cibele Andrucioli de Mattos Pimenta
1Erasto Gaertner Hospital, Curitiba, Brazil.
Summary
Patients with chronic leg ulcers experience significant pain, particularly those with venous ulcers. Pain intensity correlates with lower income, female gender, and impacts sleep, mood, and mobility, necessitating improved healthcare management.
Area of Science:
- Pain Management
- Wound Care
- Clinical Nursing
Background:
- Chronic leg ulcers represent a significant clinical challenge, often associated with substantial patient discomfort.
- Understanding the multifaceted nature of pain in this population is crucial for effective treatment strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize pain experienced by patients with chronic leg ulcers.
- To correlate pain characteristics with ulcer and sociodemographic factors.
- To identify current pain management practices.
Main Methods:
- A descriptive, cross-sectional study involving 90 patients with chronic leg ulcers.
- Pain intensity and quality assessed using a numeric rating scale and the McGill Pain Questionnaire.
- Statistical analysis included correlation tests to identify significant relationships.
Main Results:
- 81.11% of patients had venous ulcers, reporting mean pain intensity of 3.10, with "worst pain" at 7.56.
- Pain was most intense in lower-income individuals and females, correlating with sleep, mood, and mobility disturbances.
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs were the most frequent pain management strategy (70%).
Conclusions:
- Healthcare providers require enhanced understanding of leg ulcer pain characteristics.
- Development of targeted, effective pain management protocols is essential.
- Improving pain management can significantly enhance patients' quality of life.