Venous Ulcer
A venous ulcer is a wound caused by problems with blood flow in the legs. Blood is carried down to the legs by arteries and back from the legs by veins. Veins can pump blood up-hill because they have valves that keep the blood from backing up. As you walk, your leg muscles also help pump blood back up to the heart. When the vein valves don’t open and close correctly, or the muscles are weak, blood backs up in the veins and causes swelling or edema.
Your veins may have been damaged by:
- An earlier injury or surgery to legs
- A blood clot deep in a vein in your leg
- Being older, having a family history of vein problems or being overweight, or other conditions or activities your doctor may ask you about
The wound healing team will work with you and your physician to decrease swelling by elevating your legs above the level of your heart whenever you are sitting, avoid standing for longer than 10 minutes at a time, wearing your compression bandage or stocking every day.
Compression: Most physicians feel that compression is the cornerstone of therapy for venous leg ulcers. Some clinicians prefer the use of rigid compression, as achieved with a traditional Unna Boot. Multi-layer bandage systems also provide effective, sustained compression and protect bony prominences.
Sequential Compression Pumps: Sequential compression pumps are also used to reduce the edema in the leg. The drawback to sequential compression pumps is that the patient is in the pump for only a few hours a day and ambulation without compression for 8-12 hours.
Recurrence: Because venous hypertension is a lifelong condition, venous ulcers will recur frequently if the patient does nothing to combat the venous hypertension. Once healing is achieved, patients should be fitted with compression stockings and persuaded to wear their hosiery whenever they are ambulating.
Wound Care Center
Regional Rehabilitation Institute
2908 Fifth Street (3rd Floor)
Rapid City, SD 57701
(605) 719-1309
Services are available Monday - Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.