What is a leg ulcer

A leg ulcer is defined as the loss of skin below the knee on the leg or foot. which takes more than 2 weeks to heal⁽¹⁾.

Leg ulcers are becoming increasingly complicated due to a greater number of underlying co-morbidities (i.e. obesity, malnutrition, diabetes, inflammatory conditions), lifestyle and increased longevity. Leg ulcers are a silent crisis with a 1% prevalence of world’s adult population⁽²⁾⁽³⁾. I’s a huge burden for patients⁽⁴⁾⁽⁵⁾, healthcare professionals⁽⁶⁾ and a huge cost for healthcare systems⁽⁷⁾.

The priority for leg ulcer patients is to reduce healing time to get back to their normal life sooner.

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DID YOU KNOW? - Recurrence:

Up to 70% of venous leg ulcers recur after healing⁽⁸⁾.

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1. Source: NICE, Feb 2016, https://cks.nice.org.uk/leg-ulcer-venous#!topicsummary
2. Posnett, J., Gottrup, F., Lundgren, H., & Saal,G. (2009). The resource impact of wounds on health-care providers in Europe.Journal of wound care, 18(4), 154-154.
3. Widmer LK. Peripheral Venous Disorders. Basle StudyIII. Bern, Switzerland: Hans Huber; 1978
4. Herber OR, Schnepp W, Rieger MA. A systematic reviewon the impact of leg ulceration on patients' quality of life. Health Qual LifeOutcomes. 2007;5:44.
5. Hareendran A, Bradbury A, Budd J, et al. Measuringthe impact of venous leg ulcers on quality of life. J Wound Care.2005;14(2):53-7
6. European Wound Management Association (EWMA).Position Document: Hard-to-heal wounds: a holistic approach. London: MEP Ltd,2008.
7. Rabe, E., & Pannier, F. (2010). Societal costsof chronic venous disease in CEAP C4, C5, C6 disease. Phlebology, 25(1_suppl),64-67.
8. 2010 Blackwell Publishing Ltd, Journal of ClinicalNursing, 191 1289-1297

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