Trophic ulcers on the legs are a consequence of chronic venous insufficiency. If you did nothing in the initial stages of trophic disorders, ulcers can take cruel revenge: they are difficult to treat, become infected, lead to necrosis and disability. This unenviable prospect can be avoided. But only with the help of medicine.
The Baltic Vein Clinic is deservedly considered a specialized institution for the treatment of this pathology. Experienced phlebologists and vascular surgeons work here, high-quality diagnostics are carried out, and the most modern equipment is used. Treatment of trophic ulcers on the legs is one of the main areas of work of the clinic. We offer the following methods for eliminating skin defects:
Each of the above methods can be used separately. If the process is old or complicated, you may have to use all methods at the same time. The choice of treatment tactics depends entirely on the severity of the process. A doctor will help you select and correctly combine drug treatment and ultrasound procedures. A visit to the phlebologist’s office at the Baltic Vein Clinic is the first step to recovery.
You can make an appointment with a doctor by phone or email. This pre-registration is very convenient for residents of the CIS. When planning a visit to the clinic, you can first resolve all organizational issues related to your stay in Latvia. For this purpose, the clinic has a special department for working with foreign citizens. Prices for medical services can be found in the clinic’s price list. We assure you, you will not be disappointed. But you will certainly be satisfied with the level of service, quality of care, and treatment results.
A medical appointment in our clinic is not limited to a visual examination and history taking. The initial consultation is always accompanied by duplex sonography, the most modern diagnostic method. The diagnostic result is the starting point in the treatment of trophic ulcers.
To treat trophic ulcers, compression stockings are used with a lower level of compression than for varicose veins. The doctor will determine the exact dimensions of your legs using German BodyTronic 600® equipment and select stockings individually for you.
You can purchase them right there in the clinic. Or you can directly order production in Germany.
Compression stockings significantly improve blood circulation in the lower leg, which promotes rapid healing of trophic ulcers. VenoTrain® compression stockings are only positive. The soft compression does not cause the patient to suffer; the material of the stockings is comfortable even for prolonged wear. The doctor will determine how many hours a day your legs should be in stockings. All you need to do is methodically follow the recommendations received.
Drug treatment of trophic ulcers is successfully combined with wearing compression stockings and ultrasound procedures. The choice of the necessary medications for internal and external use and the duration of the course are selected for you strictly individually. It is impossible to understand the modern range of medicines on your own. Doctors at the Baltic Clinic will tell you in detail about the list of necessary medications, their mechanism of action and possible side effects. You can purchase tablets, ointments, and gels both in Latvia and upon arrival home.
The Baltic Vein Clinic has perfectly mastered and successfully applies one of the most modern ultrasound developments from the German company Soring . The method is gentle and non-traumatic.
The principle of the technology is based on the penetration of a physiological solution into the wound, through which low-frequency ultrasound affects the affected tissue. Soring technology has three types of special tips for healing and cleaning wounds, bedsores and burns and other tissue damage. Low-frequency ultrasound is able to affect wounds and trophic ulcers of any location, efficiently cleaning wound pockets and healing damaged skin surfaces.
As you can see, the Baltic Vein Clinic has something to offer you. And if you are serious about restoring youth and health to your legs, welcome to Latvia!
“The most important precondition for a successful treatment process is the patient's motivation, understanding of the treatment and complete mutual faith, trust and cooperation between the patient and the medical staff. The fact that ulcers are curable has been confirmed by international multicentric studies, in which BKV specialists have been participating for more than five years. Since in Latvia the treatment of these patients is partially reimbursed by the state, this is an excellent opportunity to significantly improve the quality of life of at least a small part of patients suffering from trophic ulcers.”
If you believe the statistics, then more than 2 million people in the world suffer from trophic ulcers. Mostly older people get sick. They begin to have difficulty climbing the stairs, quickly get tired and freeze. Their feet are cold almost all the time and hurt at night. Urgent treatment is necessary, otherwise ulcers will form.
Trophic ulcers are difficult to treat, since cell nutrition and regeneration are impaired.
Impaired blood flow in the legs is the cause of insufficient nutrition of epithelial cells. Without nutrition, epithelial cells gradually die. According to the reason that caused the formation of the ulcer, the following types of diseases were named:
Such ulcers mainly form on the lower leg. They are caused by varicose veins of the lower extremities, causing first varicose eczema and then ulceration. Before an ulcer appears, swelling of the calf occurs, the leg becomes heavier, and cramps appear at night. Then the veins on the lower leg enlarge, forming a mesh. The veins gradually connect to form a purple or purple spot. It gradually expands, its tissues become dense, smooth and shiny.
Finally, whitish-colored clamps are formed. The leg must be treated urgently, otherwise an ulcer will appear that will further develop. First, the ulcer affects the upper epithelium, then it penetrates further, up to the tibia. The ulcer produces pus with an unpleasant odor. Without proper treatment, the patient will experience erysipelas, thrombophlebitis and thrombosis in the legs, and the appearance of elephant shin. In severe cases, the person becomes ill with sepsis and dies.
If you have diabetes, a person will face many troubles, one of them is an ulcer, leading to diabetic gangrene. First, the nerve endings die and the leg loses sensitivity.
The surface of the leg remains cold, and the patient suffers pain at night. The ulcer forms at the big toe, sometimes on both feet. Foot injury and corns are the main cause of ulcers. A diabetic ulcer must be treated urgently, otherwise an infection will be added to the disease, which will cause gangrene. Then, to save a person’s life, his leg will have to be amputated.
Such ulcers occur rarely in people with high blood pressure. Mostly women who have crossed the forty-year mark suffer from such an ulcer. First, a papule or simple reddish-bluish, slightly painful spot forms. Then an ulcer forms on both legs at once. The ulcer develops very slowly, but causes pain day and night. It can cause bacterial infection.
Such ulcers are formed due to injury to the head or spine. They form on the heel or on the heel side of the foot. The ulcer penetrates deeply into the tissue, reaching the bone or tendon. It is small and not sensitive, but with pus and an unpleasant odor.
The reason for the appearance of such an ulcer is low immunity, in which a person becomes infected with furunculosis or purulent eczema. Such ulcers most often form in a person who does not maintain personal hygiene. Oval-shaped ulcers appear throughout the lower leg. They penetrate shallowly into the skin.
With atherosclerosis, the main arteries become diseased, causing ischemia of the soft tissue of the leg. As a result, ulcers form. The cause of the disease is hypothermia of the feet, wearing shoes one size too small, calluses or wounds. In this case, ulcers form on the foot or on the sole, on the big toe.
These are not large purulent wounds, with dense edges, surrounded by yellowish skin.
The disease is characterized by a deep inflammatory process of the soft tissues of the leg. When the ulcers heal, scars remain on the skin.
The doctor prescribes individual treatment for each patient. It takes into account the type of ulcer the patient has. Before treating the patient, it is necessary to diagnose the disease. Conduct cytological, histological, bacteriological examination. Only then does treatment begin. The ulcer is treated with medication or surgery. In any case, the ulcer is cleaned of pus and dead tissue, treated with antiseptics and lubricated with healing ointment. The wound gradually heals and the skin of the leg is restored. Home treatments help heal ulcers.
During surgery, dead tissue is removed.
1. Vacuum therapy. Sponge polyurethane dressings are used. They remove pus from the wound, reduce swelling, and restore blood flow to the lower leg. With such an operation, as a rule, there are no complications. Moisture inside the wound prevents bacteria or viruses from appearing.
2. A catheter is used to treat ulcers that are difficult to treat.
3. For a hypertensive ulcer, the veins are sutured to separate them.
Medicines are used during any surgical operation. However, they can be used independently to treat some types of this disease.
Treatment is divided into three periods.
1. First, the patient is prescribed antibiotics.
2. Next, anti-inflammatory drugs are used.
3. Then they give injections of pentoxifylline.
Be sure to wash the wound with antiseptics, lubricate the wound with healing ointment and apply a bandage.
A bandage is used throughout the treatment. It consists of several elastic bandages and gently compresses the affected veins. It is recommended to change the bandage daily. It helps treat venous ulcers. Such dressings improve blood flow in the veins and reduce swelling. The use of Saphena Med UCV venous ulcer is effective. This is a pair of elastic stockings. The use of medical knitwear also has a positive effect. In addition, physiotherapeutic procedures are used to treat trophic ulcers. Traditional methods are also used. The main thing, according to experts, is to start as early as possible, and always under the supervision of a specialist.
Trophic ulcers of the leg are a disease that affects the skin epithelium, deforms and leads to a severe inflammatory process. The disease damages skin tissue, leaving scars. Despite the development of modern medicine, treating leg ulcers is considered a complex process. The reason is a violation of the normal nutrition of cells, a decrease in immunity and protective reactions of the body, and loss of the ability of the epithelium to recover independently.
Treating this disease is more difficult than preventing it. Prevention and appropriate consultation with a doctor remains the priority method of getting rid of the disorder.
There are many causes of trophic leg ulcers. This includes not external, but internal disorders in the functioning of organs and systems, including hematopoiesis. Organic causes lead to the development of the disease:
Difficulties with veins are considered a common cause of the disease (according to statistics, 70% of cases); treatment requires a phlebologist.
It is easy to recognize a trophic ulcer. It looks like an open wound on the skin and can fester and not heal for many weeks. A blue hematoma first forms on the leg; small open wounds appear on it that can bleed, fester and progress rapidly. Sometimes wounds emit an unpleasant smell of rotting. Psychologically and physically, such wounds cause great discomfort. Let us list the physical signs of a trophic ulcer of the leg:
Along with a trophic ulcer, other skin problems appear, reaching sepsis. If the patient sees regressive changes on the skin of the legs, it is important not to delay seeking medical help.
Types of disease are considered to be a consequence of leg diseases, impaired blood flow, leading to insufficient saturation of epithelial cells and their rapid death. There are types of trophic ulcers:
The listed types of ulcers have different localizations and causes that determine the name. Venous trophic ulcers of the leg occur in the area of the vessels, mainly at the bottom on the inside of the leg. They may appear as a complication of varicose veins. Four stages of complications of venous ulcers are described, the latter leading to serious consequences and the development of additional diseases. Late treatment of the disease (registered cases are known) can lead to blood poisoning and death of the patient.
Treatment of trophic leg ulcers requires a comprehensive approach. Treatment of the disease includes a number of methods, depending on the individual picture of the patient’s disease. Before therapeutic procedures, it is necessary to undergo a diagnostic examination, which takes time and effort. Includes biochemical blood test, cytological studies and others.
When the attending physician makes an accurate diagnosis, treatment begins. Treatment of the disease includes surgery and medication. The doctor prescribes an additional local treatment method aimed at cleansing the wound of purulent content and dead cells using special gels, ointments, and antiseptics. The products help cleanse, disinfect the wound, restore and heal the epithelium.
It is good to begin treatment of trophic leg ulcers with drug therapy prior to surgery. The use of medications is prescribed as independent therapy for mild forms of trophic ulcers. As a rule, drug therapy includes a number of stages. The first stage eliminates infection, bacteria, and is considered cleansing. Antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs, and anti-allergy drugs are usually used at this stage. In addition, the patient must independently cleanse the wounds of pus using solutions, infusions, antiseptics prescribed by the doctor, and apply bandages with ointments.
Together with drug therapy, a blood purification procedure is performed. The second stage is characterized by the healing process of ulcers and scarring of wounds. Trophic ulcers of the leg should be treated with special healing ointments and gels (for example, actevigin, solcoseryl), and antioxidant drugs. The doctor prescribes special products and pads that eliminate scars. The third stage of drug therapy is aimed at eliminating the underlying cause of the disease.
Treating leg ulcers is a difficult task and cannot be done without traditional medicine. The use of folk remedies promotes skin restoration and rapid tissue regeneration. The herbs of calendula, chamomile, celandine, and string are considered to be good antiseptics. It is necessary to prepare infusions from herbs and wash wounds. At the pharmacy you can buy any medicinal herbs and infusions.
It is necessary to treat a trophic ulcer of the leg until the therapy gives a positive result. And the disease has the ability to recur, strictly follow the recommendations of your doctor.
Patients suffering from thrombosis and varicose veins may experience postthrombophlebitic syndrome. Its main symptom is a trophic ulcer on the leg, the treatment of which involves a complex set of drug therapy, physiotherapeutic and compression measures.
Patients suffering from thrombosis and varicose veins may experience postthrombophlebitic syndrome, the symptom of which is a trophic ulcer on the leg.
The healing process of trophic ulcers is a very complex task that requires the right approach. Currently, the disease is not recognized as common. It appears and develops against the background of other pathologies, the complications of which are manifested by similar dermatological defects.
Trophic ulcers on the legs are wounds that appear as a result of impaired blood supply to certain areas of the legs. They appear as a result of complications of certain types of diseases:
In diabetes mellitus, the main manifestations of the disease are localized in the foot area. In patients with venous insufficiency, the lesions may be located on the legs.
The cause of the pathology is a violation of blood circulation, which occurs as a result of a failure of oxygen metabolism in tissue cells. This leads to a deficiency of vitamins in them and disruption of metabolic processes.
The cause of the pathology is a violation of blood circulation, which occurs as a result of a failure of oxygen metabolism in tissue cells.
The area of skin that has suffered as a result of such damage is involved in the process and begins to die. This leads to tissue necrosis. The skin in the dying area becomes hypersensitive to infection, which leads to inflammation, characteristic suppuration and further destructive process. Trophic ulcers of the lower extremities have three stages of development:
At the first stage of the disease, as a rule, characteristic symptoms are not visible, since the destructive process begins in the deep layers of tissue. The skin in some weak areas becomes thinner, and a process of internal drying occurs. The skin is then thickened, tightened and covered with pigment. The first stage of ulcer formation is not characterized by severe pain, but when the wound grows and its contours become denser, its middle begins to bleed and hurt.
The patient may experience severe discomfort and pain when walking. This is due to the fact that the ulcer gradually absorbs soft tissue, destroying them and bone.
There comes a period when the slightest injury can cause the wound to enlarge and lead to infection. The patient experiences severe discomfort and pain when walking. This is due to the fact that the ulcer gradually absorbs soft tissue, destroying them and bone. Against the background of increasing pain, copious discharge of pus with an unpleasant odor begins. The victim experiences a strong burning sensation in the wound area, and age spots begin to change color to darker shades. The main symptoms are supplemented by cramps in the limbs.
Sometimes the inflammatory process can affect the lymphatic vessels, which is manifested by the appearance of erysipelas, eczema, lymphangitis, and thrombophlebitis.
In some cases, even after proper treatment, the healing process of ulcers may not bring one hundred percent results if the underlying disease is chronic.
A trophic ulcer on the leg, the treatment of which takes a long time, requires the use of different methods of treatment. To cure this disease, it is necessary to eliminate its root cause, which lies in the underlying disease, at the very beginning.
The treatment process involves the use of elastic compression using bandages of short and medium elongation, which are changed several times a day. With the help of compression, ulcers at the exudation stage can be very effectively treated.
The main goal during this period is to suppress pathogenic microflora and cleanse the surface of necrotic tissue. All therapeutic measures at this stage are aimed at suppressing the systemic response to the inflammation process. For this purpose, drug treatment is carried out according to indications using broad-spectrum antibiotics; use anti-inflammatory, desensitizing and non-steroidal drugs.
The compression bandage and bandage are changed several times a day.
At this stage, local treatment is applied by washing the wound with antiseptic solutions. The wounds begin to be treated with chlorhexidine and potassium permanganate.
The surface of the ulcer is covered with a bandage soaked in an antiseptic solution or water-soluble ointments: Levosin, Levomekol. During this period, the patient must observe bed rest and rest.
At the repair stage, in combination with elastic compression, phlebotonic drugs are prescribed, which are used to treat venous insufficiency. A weak solution of potassium permanganate or saline solution is used as a local remedy.
In some cases, you can use a bandage with a polyurethane sponge, which not only absorbs purulent contents, but also provides a massage effect when moving.
At the stage of epithelialization, along with all the listed methods of exposure, the use of dressings with biodegradable wound covering Algipor, Allevin is added. A good effect is provided by the use of bandages modeled on the lower legs, which are changed every two weeks. With their help, wound healing occurs most effectively.
A large ulcer can be eliminated using special surgical plastic surgery, after which a long rehabilitation process is expected.
Physiotherapy in the treatment of trophic ulcers helps to normalize blood microcirculation in the damaged area. To achieve the desired result, the primary task is to treat the underlying disease, the cause that caused the ulcer. In some cases, in order to eliminate a leg ulcer, it is necessary to eliminate the source of infection, relieve pain, and normalize metabolic processes.
In the treatment of trophic ulcers, physiotherapy helps to normalize blood microcirculation in the damaged area.
The main areas of physiotherapy for abscesses on the legs are:
The best method of regeneration of reparation is infrared laser therapy.
Activation of blood flow at the site of development of the pathogenic process during ulcers demonstrates the galvanization method, which effectively treats trophic ulcers of the leg. The method involves increasing the production of biologically active substances and mediators using bradykinin, prostaglandin, histamine, nitric oxide and electrolysis products.
Methods of longitudinal and transverse treatment of ulcers have a good effect. Current effects are contraindicated in vulnerable, rapidly bleeding granulations.
Electrodes are placed around the perimeter of the wound. This treatment method involves daily procedures at a current strength of 10 mA. In addition, ozone baths are excellent for treating ulcers. By affecting the inner layers of the skin, ozone increases the oxidative processes of oxygen and has a beneficial effect on the pro-oxidant system in the affected tissues. Thanks to this, oxygen begins to be better absorbed by tissues. Ozone therapy is carried out in a course of 10 procedures, 10-15 minutes each, every 2 days.
One of the mandatory procedures prescribed by doctors is air baths. Staying in the fresh air has a beneficial effect on the activation of cellular respiration of the affected tissues and accelerates the process of epithelization of the ulcerative defect. Patients with purulent ulcers should not be outdoors.
Staying in the fresh air has a beneficial effect on the activation of cellular respiration of the affected tissues and accelerates the process of epithelization of the ulcerative defect.
Strengthening the immune-protective function for ulcerative skin defects is carried out by exposure to solar radiation of medium and long waves. During the procedures, medium frequency modes are used. These types of therapy are contraindicated for patients with hemorrhagic complications, sarcoma, gangrene of the skin, and purulent phlegmon.
If poor healing of ulcerative wounds is observed, patients are sent to medical health-improving and preventive institutions in resort areas with hydrogen sulfide, sodium chloride, nitrogen-siliceous thermal waters.
The main prevention of the disease is aimed at preventing the disease that caused the development of a peptic ulcer. For this purpose, treatment methods are used that have an effect on eliminating the concomitant disease or preventing its exacerbation.
The basis of folk methods of treating trophic ulcers includes the use of medicinal baths, dressings and healing ointments based on natural ingredients.
The main medicine that has been used for centuries in the treatment of any form of ulcerative defects is garlic. To prepare a healing mixture from it, you need to mix 4 cloves of garlic with 3 glasses of apple cider vinegar. It is advisable to crush the garlic. Infuse the mixture for two weeks. You can treat wounds with garlic-apple infusion by applying napkins soaked in it; you can use it as a night compress. Treatment in this way helps dry wounds and relieve pain symptoms.
Strawberry leaves, which are applied as a compress several times a day, are very helpful for leg ulcers. The leaves are washed and steamed before use.
A good way to cure ulcers are infusions taken orally. A third of a glass of fresh yarrow juice is mixed with honey and drunk 2 times a day. The course of treatment is 3 weeks.
Effective treatment of the affected area with calendula has been popular among patients for many years. Crushed calendula flowers (2 tablespoons) are mixed with 25 g of petroleum jelly. It is necessary to smear the damaged area as purulent discharge appears on it. The wound is dried and ointment is applied. Before applying again, the wound is dried again, the old layer of ointment is removed, and a new one is applied.
An open ulcerative wound can be cured with kombucha. To do this, it is applied to the wound and covered with a sterile bandage. Kombucha perfectly draws out purulent contents and cleanses the wound. The procedure with it must be carried out for a week at night.
Medicinal dressings with honey and egg white have proven themselves well.
Therapeutic dressings with honey and egg white can be prepared in this way: mix honey and egg white in equal proportions. Beat the resulting mixture and apply to the affected area of the skin. In addition, this method has proven itself well for varicose veins. They apply it to the veins.
Old ulcers can be cured as follows. Fresh chicken yolks are carefully laid out and a 5% iodine solution is added in a 1:1 ratio. The ointment is stirred until a homogeneous consistency is obtained. Store this composition at room temperature. During treatment, the medicine is poured onto the wound, while protecting healthy areas of the skin so as not to get burned. The wound is bandaged and changed after 12 hours. This method of treatment is used until complete healing.
Treatment and treatment procedures will be beneficial only if general hygiene is observed and the underlying ailment is eliminated.
Venous trophic ulcers on the legs: symptoms, treatment
Trophic ulcer. ?? Modern treatment of trophic ulcers of any complexity in CELT!
With various diseases not only of the lower extremities, but also of systemic damage to the body, trophic ulcers can develop on the legs. The main problem is identifying them in the initial stage, since the initial prognosis of the disease depends on how early treatment is started. Progressing over time, trophic ulcers on the legs lead to serious impairments in the patient’s quality of life.
In the initial stage, an ulcer on the skin of the leg is a small rounded skin defect with limited damage to the subcutaneous layer to a depth of no more than 2 mm. But at the same time, all the signs of a trophic ulcer can be traced: impaired local circulation, clear boundaries of the defect, dryness of the underlying tissues, weak granulations in the wound area.
Even in the initial stage, ulceration poses a serious problem, since due to trophic disorders, scarring occurs at an extremely slow pace, and treatment of the disease is delayed. First of all, eliminate the causes:
The main mechanism for the formation of the initial stage of a trophic ulcer is local microtrauma with damage to the skin, and then subsequent disruption of blood circulation in this area. The lack of a sufficient amount of active anti-inflammatory factors due to poor blood flow causes the formation of an ulcer.
Depending on the cause of the skin damage, a trophic leg ulcer looks different. With venous insufficiency, defects form on the legs. The photo clearly shows that the predominant localization is the anterior outer surface. Before ulceration appears on the skin, pathological processes develop:
At the initial stage of a trophic ulcer, a wound appears on the skin.
The patient subjectively feels: dryness in the affected area, aching pain in the lower extremities, slight hemorrhagic discharge, weakness in the leg.
After the ulcer forms, it looks like a round defect with moderately bluish edges. The lack of blood flow is clearly visible in the photo. The patient does not feel pain in the leg at the site of an already formed trophic ulcer, but the function of the lower limb suffers. Even initial ulceration indicates advanced venous disorders in the leg.
For problems with the arteries, the manifestations in the lower extremities are somewhat different. Even an external comparison of photos of two pathologies has significant differences. Arteries are affected by atherosclerosis, diabetes mellitus and other diseases, but not only the vessels are affected, but also the nerve fibers located in the affected area. Venous outflow is completely preserved.
The typical development of a trophic ulcer in the initial stage is as follows:
The location of the affected areas on the legs is also characteristic. They can be schematically represented in the photo: the area of the sole, especially the heel area and big toe, the skin of the outer area of the phalanges of the fingers, the area of the ankle from the outside.
The patient does not feel any subjective sensations of pain, but they appear when trying to put weight on the leg. Treating ulcerations caused by artery problems is extremely difficult. In diabetes mellitus, especially when combined with a neurological defect, the initial manifestations rapidly progress.
Painful sensations from a trophic ulcer occur when putting stress on the legs.
Local treatment of trophic ulcers on the lower extremities, even in the initial stage, is unthinkable without adequate control of the underlying cause of the skin defect. Therapy depends on the type of disease, since different systemic medications are used for arterial and venous lesions.
The principles of therapeutic intervention for trophic disorders are as follows:
In order for the treatment to be complete, it is advisable to combine systemic therapy aimed at improving blood flow and nerve trophism with medications that act directly in the ulcer area. For the treatment of trophic leg ulcers, the following groups of drugs are used: vasodilators, angioprotectors, antiseptics, agents that improve reparative function, vitamins and metabolic stimulants.
For systemic treatment, the drugs listed below are used.
Diosmin - tones the venous system of the lower extremities. It is used for trophic ulcers in the initial stage on the legs associated with damage to the veins. The average dose for an adult is 600 mg per day in one dose. Treatment is carried out for 2 months.
Pentoxifylline – improves arterial blood flow in the area of the trophic ulcerative defect. Used internally and parenterally. It is used for trophic changes in the initial stage associated with damage to the arteries. The average dose is 600 mg per day in two doses.
Thiamine is a metabolic stimulant and corrector of nervous system function. It is used parenterally, treatment is carried out in courses of 10 days. Improves nerve trophism in the leg. In the initial stage, it is useful to prevent rapid progression. The average dose is 50 mg per day.
The drug is used for systemic treatment of the disease.
Local treatment is carried out with agents that restore damaged skin. Below are drugs that can be used for initial ulcerative defects.
Depantol – contains the reparant dexpanthenol and the antiseptic chlorhexidine. Effectively fights the proliferation of microbes and restores trophic changes in tissue. Use the cream twice a day under a bandage.
Olazol – contains an anesthetic, a reparant and two antiseptics. The composition contains sea buckthorn oil as a healing component. Release form: aerosol. Apply under a bandage 4 times a day.
Polivinox – has an antiseptic and regenerating effect. Available in balm form. Apply twice a day under a bandage on the leg.
Thus, it is important to quickly identify trophic ulcers in the initial stage and begin treatment immediately. This will allow you to maintain full function of the lower extremities for a long time. Therapy should be comprehensive, combining external treatment and systemic drugs. At the first sign of an ulcer, you should immediately contact a specialist.
Trophic ulcers on the legs are difficult to cure, and after healing they often make themselves known again. It is impossible to get rid of them without the use of medications, and in many cases such tissue damage leads to disability.
Trophic ulcers are damage to the skin, mucous membranes and subcutaneous tissues due to impaired lymph and blood circulation and insufficient supply of nutrients and oxygen. It is characterized by a long course - the affected areas may not heal for 2-3 months or longer.
The localization of leg ulcers depends on the underlying pathology that provoked the appearance. In case of varicose veins and thrombophlebitis, they are located on the shins and ankles, in case of diabetes mellitus - on the feet.
The main causes of trophic ulcers:
The last two reasons are a consequence of the first two. The main diseases that can lead to trophic damage to the lower extremities are:
Other causes and risk factors:
A trophic ulcer is considered to be a lesion of the skin and subcutaneous tissues that does not heal within 1.5 months.
Symptoms of a trophic ulcer develop gradually and not suddenly. The appearance of an ulcer is preceded by severe dryness of the skin on the leg or both limbs, persistent swelling, pigmentation and cramps. The formation of a trophic wound occurs in 4 stages:
Let's consider the symptoms of trophic ulcers on the legs by stages of development.
Initial stage of trophic ulcer (photo) and treatment (healing)
Against the background of the underlying disease, the permeability of the vascular walls increases, and red blood cells go beyond its limits. Hemoglobin is converted into hemosiderin and, accumulating in the skin, provokes pigmentation.
This is the first stage in the development of a trophic ulcer on the leg. The initial stage is also manifested by thinning of the skin, which becomes shiny, as if varnished. The progression is complemented by inflammation of the subcutaneous fatty tissue and hyperemia of the skin of the limb.
Due to swelling, it is impossible to grasp the skin with your fingers, and the accumulated liquid appears on the surface, forming drops of moisture on it. The light spots that appear are areas of necrotic tissue.
Without treatment, at this stage a scab forms, deepening into the skin, and then a red wound area - the actual trophic ulcer. The initial stage of a trophic ulcer, depending on the severity of the development of varicose veins or other pathology, lasts from 3-4 hours to 4 weeks.
A trophic ulcer has rounded edges, and its appearance at the second stage depends on the presence of wound infection and the timeliness and effectiveness of treatment. The affected area produces mucus and pus, often mixed with blood and fibrin strands.
If there is an infection, the ulcer emits an unpleasant, putrid odor and itches.
Additional signs of trophic ulcers (stages 1-2):
The lesion progresses to the third stage only in the case of treatment carried out at stage 2. The edges begin to heal, and scarring of the ulcer occurs in the direction from the periphery to the center - pink areas appear.
If the trophism (nutrition) of tissues is not fully restored, then there is a high risk of a return to the initial stage. Final scarring occurs in the fourth stage and may take up to several months. The ulcer completely granulates and heals.
For trophic ulcers of the lower extremities, treatment with medications is carried out separately or as an addition to surgical cleaning of the affected area. For an open, non-scarring wound, the following remedies are used:
For trophic ulcers, antiseptic and antimicrobial ointments are prescribed from drugs. They are applied in a thin layer to a bandage or gauze and tightly fixed to the leg.
Examples of products are Levosin, Levomekol. To combat bacterial infection, salt compresses are also used at the rate of 1 tsp. salt per 200 ml of water.
For the treatment of trophic leg ulcers at the stage of granulation and scarring, the following medications are indicated:
For venous etiology of ulcers, compression stockings, tights or elastic bandages are always used, which are worn constantly and changed every day. In addition to treating skin lesions, therapy for the underlying pathology that caused the development of a trophic ulcer is mandatory.
Treatment of trophic ulcers of the lower extremities at home with folk remedies is considered as an addition to the main therapy. It is effective to wash the wound with freshly squeezed potato or cabbage juice, which can also be used to apply compresses.
Oak decoction and willow bark powder are also used for these purposes. Among natural pharmaceutical products, ointments with comfrey, geranium and arnica are effective in the treatment of trophic ulcers.
Among non-traditional methods, the attending physician may prescribe:
Surgical treatment is indicated when conservative treatment is ineffective. During the operation, the ulcer is excised, necrotic areas of skin and subcutaneous tissue are removed. Vacuuming and curettage are used to remove mucopurulent contents.
Limb amputation is used in advanced cases when there is no other way to save a person’s life.
The danger of trophic ulcers lies in their complications, such as:
Without proper and timely treatment, a trophic ulcer on the leg has an unfavorable prognosis - the result is the loss of a limb, and without seeking medical help - death due to the development of dangerous complications.
A trophic ulcer refers to an extremely dangerous type of pathological condition in which the skin has many different defects, in the form of open wounds that are difficult to treat and remain open almost all the time. The main problem posed by this type of disease manifests itself in local damage to blood vessels, accompanied by disruption of the circulatory system. Of particular danger are inflammatory processes that affect not only the skin, but also the contacting soft tissues, gradually moving further, deeper.
Trophic ulcers are not an independent disease; this pathology manifests itself against the background of failures in the cell nutrition system, the process of which in medicine is called trophism, which gave the name to the disease. Problems with cellular nutrition can cause various diseases in the form of residual complications. This is the main reason, which manifests itself in the further destruction of cell nutrition processes, which are accompanied by a failure of the metabolic system in the body. Not only the process of blood circulation depends on the duration of stagnation of the venous system, but also the possibility of “acquiring” other diseases, in the list of which one of the leaders is a trophic ulcer.
During the process of growth, the disease can affect large areas of the skin, soft tissues, and nerve endings, disrupting lymph circulation and exposing them to destruction of various types of inflammation.
The danger of the disease is that the symptoms that help diagnose the disease appear suddenly. Nevertheless, there are signs in the form of swelling, heaviness and pain in the extremities, against the background of which symptoms arise, which determine the onset of the development of a trophic ulcer. The list of signs that indicate the possibility of the onset of the development of a trophic ulcer includes the main ones:
The listed signs appear in the area where the veins are located, on the inside of the lower leg. This is due to the fact that the development of the disease begins precisely from the areas where the veins are located, where it manifests itself in the form of the formation of small ulcers. The shape of the ulcer resembles a volcano crater, with torn edges along the entire roundness, with possible suppuration at the ends, as a result of inflammatory processes. The damage to the arteries, namely they are primarily exposed to inflammatory processes and destruction of integrity, is determined by the following criteria:
Ulcers of a neurotrophic nature resemble bedsores in appearance, which have a rounded shape. Their location is most often the heel area or the sole of the foot. Inflammatory processes are sluggish and do not cause any particular pain. Autoimmune lesions are expressed in a symmetrical location on both limbs; in diabetes mellitus, ulcers appear on the heel and one of the toes.
This type of pathology is characterized by the main symptoms: discharge of pus from the affected areas, or ichor.
Trophic ulcer refers to diseases that do not appear suddenly; pathological changes occur under the influence of many factors, but experts identify two of the main ones:
Concomitant factors that can enhance the development of the disease include various manifestations of a pathological nature and changes that occurred against the background of complications of previously suffered diseases.
And yet, experts say that it is the stagnation of blood in small veins, as a consequence of complications caused by varicose veins and thrombophlebitis, that is the main cause of the appearance of trophic ulcers on the legs. Damage to the arteries and loss of capillary tone create a lack of oxygen and disrupt the rhythm of tissue nutrition, which leads to pathological changes.
A trophic ulcer in its development is divided into 4 stages, which differ both in symptoms and treatment methods. The clarity of the development of stages and the predictability of the further development of the disease are a distinctive feature of this kind of pathological formations.
An important aspect of a trophic ulcer is the presence of a stage, which in fact is not yet the disease itself, but a so-called “pre-ulcer” situation, when symptoms indicate imminent changes for the worse, but the possibility of preventing the development of the disease is not excluded.
The detection of induration, or the presence of thickening of the skin on the lower leg and calves, accompanied by itching or burning, as well as neoplasms in the form of swelling, indicates the presence of symptoms that suggest the development of the initial stage of the disease. Occasionally, in such cases, dilatation of the subcutaneous veins, which are located immediately under the skin, is observed. During this period, the disease manifests itself in a change in skin color, at times there is a feeling of chilliness, and night leg cramps.
The appearance of blue and purple spots on parts of the extremities indicates the further development of the initial stage of the disease, which ends with the formation of an ulcer. The initial stage can be considered completely completed after the scab in the central part of the ulcer is completely ready for destruction under the influence of purulent accumulations. The initial phase can last in different ways: from 1-2 days to several weeks; several factors can influence it simultaneously.
Once the ulcer is fully formed, the disease enters the second stage of exudation, during which the formation of perifocal edema is observed, accompanied by an inflammatory process. In the center of the ulcer, tissue necrosis forms, that is, the presence of an ulcerative defect is already clearly visible. From the wound, ichor and tissue death products are released abundantly, accompanied by an unpleasant specific odor.
At this stage of development, when studying the material, characteristic signs of the second stage are the appearance of new colonies of microbes, which in itself is a fact of increased contamination of the entire defect. The growth of ulcers in the area of lymphatic vessels leads to lymphangitis, thrombophlebitis and the manifestation of erysipelas. Timely use of medications helps prevent obliteration of lymphatic vessels, usually accompanied by swelling, most often on the feet, and which experts define as the onset of lymphedema. The end result of the development of the second stage is the inability to step on damaged defects and the appearance of new ulcers, and in total the period lasts from a month to a month and a half.
The third stage (granulation, or repair) lasts about? months, sometimes the period lasts up to three weeks. The walls of the ulcer and the bottom are constantly updated with new granules, necrosis can begin to be treated with the help of flies that eat dead tissue without affecting healthy cells, swelling gradually subsides, suppuration disappears. The serousness of scanty separation increases and the beginning of scarring of wounds is observed.
Epithelization of the ulcer is the very last stage of the disease, which occurs a month or later from the beginning of the process of tissue destruction, accompanied by the appearance of epithelium or scar.
Since a trophic ulcer does not disappear on its own, any delay in treating the disease can ultimately lead to amputation of limbs, and in the worst case, death. A trophic ulcer is not treated in one day or even a week; the process differs in its duration, which can drag on for an indefinite period.
Doctors do not deny the fact that the use of folk remedies to treat trophic ulcers at home is highly effective, and if all procedures are followed accurately, it allows not only to control the disease, but also to completely get rid of it. An important point is the fact that the patient has to participate in his healing in conditions that differ from an inpatient stay in a medical institution. Since a trophic ulcer is a type of disease that manifests itself against the background of other diseases and is inherently a complication that occurs due to impaired blood supply and cell nutrition, treatment methods may have significant differences in the use of folk remedies. Using alternative medicine, specialists require their patients to report on the actions taken in order to combine medications aimed at treating trophic ulcers.
First of all, special attention is paid to drugs that belong to the category of antiseptics; it is them, made in the form of gels, ointments, in combination with antibiotics, that localize inflammatory processes, suppress the proliferation of microbes, and inhibit the spread and development of the disease.
Special attention is paid to the state of the immune system, improving the ability to resist diseases by taking vitamins and foods that contain all the necessary microelements for the normal functioning of the body. In folk medicine there are a lot of recipes prepared on the basis of herbs, honey, and food products. Particular attention is paid to taking medications that not only reduce the development of trophic ulcers, but also simultaneously resist varicose formations:
Along the way, antispasmodics, drugs that improve fat metabolism, and non-anti-inflammatory steroids are used.
Treatment is carried out in a complex, combining various drugs that promote healing of ulcers and resist the development of the underlying disease.
Most of the measures to control the development of the disease are given to external treatment of the affected limbs according to consultations, which are the basis for the treatment of trophic ulcers in diabetes mellitus.