Ulcères de jambe

Abstract

A leg ulcers is defined as a loss of cutaneous substance which does not tend to heal spontaneously. Ulcers are generally located in the lower part of the inferior limbs and are related to a pathological vascular process. Their incidence is 1 to 1.3 %. A rigorous examination of a patient presenting a leg ulcer is necessary and must include an examination of the lesion itself, of the peri-ulcerous skin, of the vascular status and of the general health status. Complementary examination may also be helpful in completing the check-up at the end of which the aetiology must be found, i.e. venous, arterial, anterior-venous aetiology or a rarer cause. Symptomatological treatment must be considered first. The local treatment will follow the different stages of the wound healing: detersion, granulation, epidermization. When possible, the aetiological treatment is the only one that prevents relapses. Finally, any complication should always be recognize and treated, particularly in case of superinfection and/or eczematization.