Management of leg ulcers

Chronic wounds, and venous ulcers in particular, are often managed by dermatologists. The first step in the management of any lower extremity ulceration is accurate diagnosis. Although there are several basic tenets of good wound care that remain static regardless of wound etiology, such as maintaining a moist and clean wound healing environment, many of the maneuvers that have been shown to improve the chances of healing must be individualized to the wound type. Many of the techniques in wound management have not changed over the past century: compression remains the cornerstone of venous ulcer management. This article summarizes some of the techniques used in the management of these wounds. We discuss the evidence for using compression, vitamin and mineral supplementation, antibiotic use, growth factors, and other interventions in the management of these wounds.