Book Title: Wound Care Nursing
Chapter 10: Leg Ulcers
Overview:
- Includes discussion on the causes of leg ulcers and provides a relevant case study
- Contains appropriate visual and diagrammatic supports
- Covers the general principles for the assessment of leg ulcers and possible treatment options
- Compares between signs and symptoms of venous and arterial ulcers
- Discusses mixed vessel ulcers
Description:
Leg ulcers are a significant burden on patients, their families, and healthcare systems. Approximately 15% of persons over the age of 80 years suffer from a leg ulcer (Hewitt et al. 2003). Leg ulcers have a high rate of recurrence and some people endure many years of non-healing leg ulcers (Scully 1999). This chapter first discusses the assessment and treatment of leg ulcers in general terms. For specific advice on the assessment and management of particular types of leg ulcers, see ‘Venous leg ulcers’ (this chapter, page 151) and ‘Arterial leg ulcers’ (this chapter, page 161).
Topics:
- Causes of leg ulcers
- Assessment
- General principles of assessment
- Leg-ulcer assessment tools
- Specific investigations
- Multidisciplinary assessment
- Examination of the limb
- Examination of the ulcer
- Treatment objectives
- Venous leg ulcers
- Venous systems in the lower limb
- Pathophysiology of leg ulcers
- Conditions associated with venous insufficiency
- Clinical appearance of venous ulcers
- Skin conditions associated with venous insufficiency
- Palpation of foot pulses
- Investigations
- Treatment of venous leg ulcers
- Long-term care of venous insufficiency
- Arterial leg ulcers
- Conditions associated with arterial insufficiency
- Clinical indications of arterial disease
- Clinical appearance of arterial ulcers
- Investigations
- Treatment of arterial leg ulcers
- Mixed vessel ulcers
- Other aetiologies
Speaker / Author:
Sue Templeton
is a registered nurse who holds a bachelor’s degree in nursing. She is currently undertaking a master’s degree in nursing. Sue has more than 16 years’ experience in the management of acute and chronic wounds, and has initiated wound management policies, designed wound assessment tools, and contributed to the development of a clinical pathway for the management of venous leg ulcers. Sue frequently conducts wound management education for nurses in a variety of settings and has published and presented at local and national forums. She is currently employed as the advanced wound specialist and clinical nurse consultant with the Royal District Nursing Service of South Australia. Sue is also a clinical tutor with the University of Adelaide, a member of the South Australian Wound Management Association, the South Australian Society for Vascular Nursing, and the Australian Council of Community Nursing Services.
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