Treatment Options → Endovascular Laser Ablation → Sclerotherapy → Microphlebectomy → Venous Leg Ulcers

Venous leg ulcers are a serious health threat that can lead to poor circulation, open wounds and even amputation of affected extremities. The Vein and Laser Center of Elgin Cardiac Surgery uses the latest form of laser therapy to heal active ulcers.

Ulcers are breaks in the layers of the skin that fail to heal. They may be accompanied by inflammation. Sometimes they don't heal and become chronic. People with diabetes are at special risk of developing foot ulcers.

What causes ulceration?
The most common cause of chronic leg ulcers is poor blood circulation in the legs. These are known as arterial and venous leg ulcers.

Other causes include:

• injuries - traumatic ulcers
• diabetes - because of poor blood circulation or loss of sensation (nerve damage) resulting in pressure ulcers
• certain skin conditions
• vascular diseases
• tumours
• infections.

Approximately 70 per cent of all leg ulcers are venous ulcers.
A leg with venous problems has a very characteristic appearance:

• the leg is swollen.
• the skin surrounding a venous ulcer is dry, itchy and sometimes brownish in colour.
• eczema may appear (varicose eczema).
• the ulcer has a weeping, raw appearance and is usually painless unless infected.
• venous leg ulcers are often located just above the ankle, typically on the inside of the leg.

What causes venous leg ulcers?

Most of venous leg ulcers occur because the valves connecting the superficial and deep veins are not functioning properly. The venous system is made up of superficial and deep veins: superficial veins are located between the skin and the muscles, deep veins are located between the muscles. Superficial and deep vein systems are connected to each other by veins that have one-way valves. These valves normally ensure that blood flows from the superficial veins to the deep system. Failure of these valves causes blood to flow from the deep veins back out to the superficial ones - a major cause of varicose veins.

The Vein and Laser Center of Elgin Cardiac Surgery uses EVLT (Endovenous laser therapy) and microphlebectomy to treat leg ulcers during a single procedure.