Lower Leg Ulcer Diagnosis and Principles of Treatment including recommendations for comprehensive assessment and referral Pathways

Chronic wounds are a huge burden on the individual’s quality of life (QoL) and healthcare system. Right and early diagnostics of chronic wounds is essential for successful wound management; however, there is a dearth of literature describing the outcomes of wound healing related to the timing and accuracy of diagnostics.

Chronic lower limb wounds can be divided into six main categories: venous, arterial, mixed venous and arterial, diabetic foot, pressure and atypical ulcers. However, more and more wounds are multiaetiological in the clinical setting, and one diagnosis does not exclude another.

The European Wound Management Association (EWMA) established a working group to gather the best available evidence on the diagnostics of a lower leg ulcers. Focus is on the diagnostics of infection, arterial and venous insufficiency, leg oedema and atypical causes. Treatment options are focused on the most important, i.e., revascularisation, endovenous treatment, compression therapy and local treatment.

Kirsi Isoherranen et al.

MD, PhD, Helsinki University Hospital and Helsinki University, Dermatology Clinic and Helsinki Wound Healing Centre, Finland

Isoherranen K, Montero EC, Atkin L, Collier M, Høgh A, Ivory JD, Kirketerp- Møller K, Meaume S, Ryan H, Stuermer EK, Tiplica GS, Probst S. Lower Leg Ulcer Diagnosis & Principles of Treatment. Including Recommendations for Comprehensive Assessment and Referral Pathways. J Wound Management, 2023;24(2 Sup1):s1-76 DOI: 10.35279/jowm2023.24.02.sup01