Abstract: Aim: To determine the clinical features and management of ulcers of the lower limb.
Methods: The Department of General Surgery conducted a prospective cross-sectional analysis. With the aid of computer-generated random numbers, 100 patients with chronic leg ulcers were chosen at random from those who visited the OPD or were admitted to the surgical ward. After determining the primary cause of leg ulcers, proper antibiotic coverage for gram positive, gram negative, and anaerobic organisms, proper glycaemic control, leg elevation, compression bandaging, total cessation of smoking and causative drugs, nutritional support, vasoactive agents to restore blood flow, nerve stimulation, and proper wound care with debridement slough excision are also recommended.
Results: The leg ulcers were more prevalent in the age group 40-70 years. Test of proportion showed that proportion of males 85% was significantly higher than that of females 15% (Z=9.74; p<0.0001). Thus the leg ulcers were more prevalent among males. Ulcers in the left leg (49%0 was higher than that of right leg (47%) but it was not significant (Z=0.28; p=0.77). Only 3% of the patients were having ulcers in both legs. Most of the patients (61%) had ulcer at foot followed by gaiter (20%) and leg (19%). (Z=6.14; p<0.0001). Most of the ulcers were diabetic (37%) followed by venous (22%) (Z=2.31; p=0.01). Only 5% and 3% were malignant and trophic ulcers.
Conclusion: There has undoubtedly been a significant increase in the treatment of untreated leg ulcers, thanks to the availability of an array of investigational antibiotics and ever-improving dressing materials.
