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Leg Ulcers Are a Diagnostic and Therapeutic Challenge

Hospital Dresden-Friedrichstadt, Academic Teaching Hospital of the Technical University of Dresden, Dresden, Germany, wollina-uw{at}khdf.de

Mohamed Badawy Abdel Naser, MD

Department of Dermatology, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt

Gesine Hansel, MD

Hospital Dresden-Friedrichstadt, Academic Teaching Hospital of the Technical University of Dresden, Dresden, Germany

Cathrine Helm, MD

Hospital Dresden-Friedrichstadt, Academic Teaching Hospital of the Technical University of Dresden, Dresden, Germany

André Koch, MD

Hospital Dresden-Friedrichstadt, Academic Teaching Hospital of the Technical University of Dresden, Dresden, Germany

Helga Konrad, MD

Hospital Dresden-Friedrichstadt, Academic Teaching Hospital of the Technical University of Dresden, Dresden, Germany

Jacqueline Schönlebe, MD

Hospital Dresden-Friedrichstadt, Academic Teaching Hospital of the Technical University of Dresden, Dresden, Germany

Leonore Unger, MD

Hospital Dresden-Friedrichstadt, Academic Teaching Hospital of the Technical University of Dresden, Dresden, Germany

Erich Köstler, MD

Hospital Dresden-Friedrichstadt, Academic Teaching Hospital of the Technical University of Dresden, Dresden, Germany

Leg ulcers are common. They cause a substantial burden to the patient and society. However, there is no need for therapeutic nihilism. The target of leg ulcer therapy is the individual patient. To be treated in a rational and successful way, exact diagnosis of the underlying cause(s) and associated diseases is necessary. This can be done in the most effective way with an interdisciplinary approach. The collection of cases demonstrates the need for careful clinical investigation substantiated and supported by vascular, histopathologic, and microbiologic techniques whenever needed. It is difficult to heal every ulcer completely, but improvement of the medical situation as well as the quality of life of the patient is possible in most cases.

Key Words: leg ulcers • metabolic disease • vascular disease • neuropathic ulcers • vasculitis • malignant ulcer

The International Journal of Lower Extremity Wounds, Vol. 4, No. 2, 97-104 (2005)
DOI: 10.1177/1534734605277465


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