Download Venous Stasis Ulcers - Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge

Venous Stasis Ulcers:
A common leg ulcer,
uncommon costs
According to the American College of Phlebology,
venous stasis ulcers affect about 1-2% of adults
– approximately 3-6 million afflicted adults in the
United States. They are 1.5 to 3 times more common
in women than in men and they are found in as
many as 3.4 % of patients older than 80 years of age.
Accelerating wound care
About the Methodist Wound
Treatment Center
The Wound Treatment Center at
Methodist Medical Center
The Methodist Wound Treatment Center is an
outpatient program that focuses on chronic and
non-healing wounds. Using advanced treatment
modalities and a case management model, we
help patients improve the quality of their lives. In
partnership with physicians, nurses and multiple
medical disciplines, we provide invaluable care
for patients.
Let the Methodist Wound
Treatment Center heal
your patients today
For more information about advanced venous
ulcer wound care, contact us today.
Venous stasis ulcers occur when veins in the
legs do not properly pump blood back to the
heart. In such cases, blood tends to pool near the
ankle as gravity pulls fluid and blood downward.
Prolonged swelling of the legs and ankles causes
increased pressure in this area, reducing blood
flow and oxygen delivery to the skin. As a result
skin breakdown may occur resulting in an open
ulcer of the skin that often drains moderate to
large amounts of fluid.
Venous
Stasis Ulcers:
160-A West Tennessee Ave.
Oak Ridge, TN 37830
865-835-3740 (phone)
865-835-3742 (fax)
www.mmcoakridge.com/wound
0525-0020
People at risk for developing such ulcers are
typically older, have a low level of daily activity
or exercise, a history of extended periods of
standing or any condition resulting in excess fluid
collection in the body or legs. Contributing to
ulcer development are hereditary factors, obesity,
blood clots, varicose veins and lower leg trauma
or injury such as bumping into an object (coffee
table or car door for example).
Promoting care
and healing
Treatment and Care
Wound Treatment Center Care
Compression therapy products such as
compression stockings, single-layer wraps, multilayer wraps or unna boots are considered the gold
standard in care. In recent years pentoxifyline
(Trental) has been used with reasonable success
in improving circulation.
The Methodist Wound Treatment Center provides
help through:
In addition to compression or prescription drug
therapy to promote healing, various forms
of debridement may be in order. Physicians
may choose to debride or treat with specialty
dressings. Advanced wound care specialists
are able to determine which treatment options
best promote healing given a patient’s unique
circumstances.
• Trained health care professionals to care for
patient wounds
• Education regarding treatment of the patient’s
wounds and prevention of new wounds
• Complete wound evaluation
• Diagnostic testing
• A treatment plan specific for your patients’ needs
Symptoms of Chronic Venous Stasis Disease
Symptoms of chronic venous stasis disease may
include any or all of the following:
• Swelling in legs and ankles, skin discoloration
(brown, red or bluish)
• Dry scaly itchy skin
Venous skin ulcers are shallow wounds that develop when the
leg veins do not circulate blood back to the heart normally. Most
venous skin ulcers develop on either side of the lower leg, above
the ankle and below the calf.
Least common area
affected by venous
skin ulcers
Venous ulcers occur
when blood does not
circulate back to the
heart normally from
the legs.
Most common area
affected by venous
skin ulcers
Least common area
affected by venous
skin ulcers
• Aching or feeling of tiredness in legs that is
relieved by elevating legs
• Prominent superficial veins
• Skin ulcer (usually above the ankle on inside
surface of the leg)
Typical venous ulcer before treatment at the Wound Treatment Center
Venous ulcers are the
major cause of chronic
wounds, occurring in
70% to 90% of chronic
wound cases.
SOURCE: Snyder RJ (2005)
"Treatment of nonhealing ulcers with allografts"
After treatment at the Wound Treatment Center