Leg ulcers in childhood: A multicenter study in France

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Pediatrics
• Vascular Medicine

Background:

• Leg ulcers are a significant public health concern, primarily affecting adults and often linked to vascular diseases.
• Pediatric leg ulcers are less common, necessitating specific etiological and management investigations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify the causes of leg ulcers in children and teenagers.
• To evaluate the management strategies and healing outcomes for pediatric leg ulcers.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective multicenter study involving 27 patients under 18 years old with chronic leg ulcers.
• Data collected from 12 French hospitals between 2008 and 2020.

Main Results:

• Common causes included general diseases (e.g., pyoderma gangrenosum, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome), vasculopathies, trauma, infections, and neuropathies.
• Comorbidities (59.3%) and chronic treatments (18.5%) were frequent risk factors for delayed healing.
• The average healing time was 9.1 months.

Conclusions:

• Pediatric leg ulcers have distinct causes compared to adults, with systemic diseases being prominent.
• Identifying and managing comorbidities is essential for improving healing.
• Multidisciplinary management is required, though children and teenagers generally heal faster than adults.