Successful methods of treating leg ulcers. The tried and true, plus the novel and new.

The cause of a leg ulcer should be determined before a course of treatment is undertaken, and this often can be accomplished through history taking, physical examination, and use of simple noninvasive testing. Most leg ulcers are caused by venous disease, arterial insufficiency, neuropathy, or a combination of these factors. Complete management should address the patient's general health as well as specific findings, and treatment of any underlying cause is paramount. In venous ulcers, compression is the cornerstone of treatment, and a variety of effective stockings and other compression devices are available. Arterial ulcers usually require reestablishment of an adequate vascular supply, often through surgery. Neuropathic ulcers need thorough debridement to allow good granulation and epithelialization. Five types of occlusive dressings are available that achieve debridement less painfully but also more slowly than the surgical approach. Several adjunctive methods are now available that facilitate successful therapy in these ulcers, which have often been considered nonhealing wounds.