What are the Causes of Venous Ulcers?
The following conditions indicate an increased risk for venous ulceration: – Varicose veins – High Blood Pressure – Phlebitis (inflammation in the deep veins) – Multiple pregnancies – Lower-limb oedema – Fractures or Injuries – Previous vein surgery – Sitting or standing for long periods – Obesity – Old leg ulcers that may have damaged part of the venous system – A family history of venous disease/ deep vein thrombosis How is a venous leg ulcer diagnosed? The appearance of a venous leg ulcer is usually fairly typical. It often looks different to ulcers caused by other problems such as poor circulation or nerve problems. To rule out poor circulation as a cause it is usual for a doctor or nurse to check the blood pressure in the ankle and in the arm. The ankle blood pressure reading is divided by the arm blood pressure reading to give a blood pressure ratio called the ‘Ankle Brachial Pressure Index (ABPI)’. If the ratio is low it indicates that the cause of the ulcer is likely to be poor