A venous ulcer is a shallow sore on your lower leg caused by poor circulation of the veins. This condition used to be called a stasis ulcer.
Veins have valves that help blood return to the heart. If these valves do not work properly, blood flows backward and backs up into the veins near the skin. This causes the blood to pool in your lower legs. The blood can then can leak out of your veins and irritate your skin. This may cause a break in your skin and lead to stasis venous ulcer.
A venous ulcer is the most common type of a lower leg ulcer. You may have venous ulcers on one or both legs. This condition most frequently develops around your ankles. This type of ulcer may last for a long time (chronic ulcer) or return repeatedly …show more content…
This helps the ulcer to help it heal and to prevents infection.
Sometimes surgery is needed to close the wound with a piece of skin from another area of your body (graft). You may need surgery if other treatments are not working or if your ulcer is very deep.
HOME CARE INSTRUCTIONS
Wound Care
• Follow instructions from your health care provider about:
○ How to take care of your wound.
○ When and how you should change your dressing.
○ When you should remove your dressing. If your dressing is dry and stuck when you try to remove it, moisten or wet the dressing with saline or water so that it can be removed without harming your skin or wound tissue.
• Check your wound every day for signs of infection. Have a caregiver do this for you if you are not able. Watch for:
○ More redness, swelling, or pain.
○ More fluid, blood, or pus.
○ A bad smell.
Medicines
• Take over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your health care provider.
• If you were prescribed an antibiotic medicine, take it or apply it as told by your health care provider. Do not stop taking or using the antibiotic even if your condition