Hard-to-heal venous-lymphatic leg ulcers: a special case

In the treatment of this 56-year-old male, the aim was to attend to his multiple pathologies, reducing his venous-lymphatic oedema on both legs, closing the extended ulcers and improving his quality of life. The patient received treatment in a community-based wound healing clinic. After various local therapies were not successful, the wounds were cleansed with saline and covered with a biocellulose dressing (BWD) and polyhexanide (PHMB), after which a short-stretch bandage system was applied. Compression was then switched to a tubular compression system. At day 0, both lower legs had significant oedema and circumferential venous-lymphatic ulcers, and the left leg showed signs of inflammation. However, at day 8, inflammation, oedema and ulcer area had reduced. After 2 months, the ulcers were almost closed and the oedema had reduced to a level where the tubular compression system could be applied. Treatment using BWD and compression and good adherence to this regimen led to ulcer closure. This improved the patients' quality of life significantly.