Leg ulcer etiology--a cross sectional population study

Abstract

Three hundred eighty-two patients with active leg ulcers were clinically examined after random selection out of a population of 827 patients identified within a previous cross-sectional population survey. Bidirectional Doppler ultrasonography was used for objective assessment of arterial and venous circulation. The purpose was to register causative factors and the etiologic spectrum. Venous insufficiency was present in 332 (72%) of 463 legs with active ulceration; deep insufficiency occurred in 176 (38%), and purely superficial insufficiency was present in 156 (34%). Ankle/brachial index was 0.9 or less in 185 (40%) of ulcerated legs. Venous insufficiency was the dominating causative factor in 250 legs (54%), of which 60% was the result of deep venous insufficiency. Arterial insufficiency was judged to be the possible dominating factor in 12%, and 6% showed clearly ischemic ulcers. Mixed ulcers with combined arterial and venous insufficiency were found to be common as were patients with diabetes and arterial impairment. In 10% of the legs a multifactorial origin was present, and in 10% no venous or arterial impairment was detectable. Thus after classification of causes 40% of all ulcerated legs showed potentially surgically curable circulatory disturbances. It is necessary to objectively assess all patients with chronic leg ulcers to be able to detect patients with potentially surgically curable disease.