Is chronic venous ulcer curable? A sample survey of a plastic surgeon

Venous ulcers of lower limbs are often chronic and non-healing, many a time neglected by patients and their treating physicians as these ulcers mostly do not lead to amputation as in gangrenous arterial ulcer and also cost much to complete the course of treatment and prevention of recurrence.

One hundred and twenty two lower limb venous ulcers came up for treatment between May 2006 and April 2009. Only twenty nine cases completed the treatment. The main tool of investigation was the non invasive Duplex scan venography. Biopsy of the ulcer was done for staging the disease. Patients' choice of treatment was always conservative and as out-patient instead of hospitalisation and surgery, which required a lot of motivation by the treating unit.

Out of twenty nine cases, ten cases were treated conservatively and seven (24.13%) healed well. Remaining nineteen cases were given surgical modality in which fifteen cases (51.74%) were successful. Only seven cases (24.13%) failed to heal. Compression stockings were advised to control oedema, varices and pain. Foot care, regular exercises and follow-up were stressed effectively.