A trophic ulcer of the lower extremities cannot occur on its own. The onset of the disease is the result of many different pathologies. What causes can cause ulcers? What treatments are there?
Places of defeat and the main causes of the disease
A trophic ulcer of the lower extremities appears as a result of a violation of the blood supply to the skin area, which leads to a lack of nutrients and oxygen, the development of microcirculation disorders and metabolic disorders in the tissues. The affected area is necrotic and becomes sensitive to infection.
The causes of the manifestation of the disease can serve:
- chronic arterial insufficiency (non-specific aortic arteritis, thromboangiitis obliterans, atherosclerosis);
- high blood sugar (diabetes);
- chronic venous disorders (thrombophlebitis of the extremities, varicose veins);
- injuries and skin lesions after surgery.
The disease can be located on any part of the body. For example, a trophic ulcer of the leg occurs as a result of chronic venous disorders, and ulcers on the skin of the feet are a consequence of diabetes.
Symptoms of the disease
How does a trophic ulcer manifest itself ? Symptoms of the disease are:
1. The skin at the site of damage becomes thin, tense and dry, has a mirror-shiny appearance with characteristic pigment spots.
2. An ulcer appears, gradually increasing in size. Over time, the edges of the ulcer become denser, the bottom bleeds and becomes covered with dirty plaque.
Any injury further leads to the attachment of an infection and an increase in the ulcer effect. Pain is the main complaint of patients. Violation of the skin prevents patients from maintaining hygiene, picking up clothes and shoes.
The main task of the attending physician when detecting a trophic ulcer in a patient is to identify the root cause of its occurrence. For this, ultrasound dopplerography of blood vessels, X-ray contrast phlebography, measurement of oxygen levels and examination of limb blood flow are performed.
Treatment
Trophic ulcer of the lower extremities is treated only in stationary conditions. In parallel, the cause of its occurrence should be treated. For example, if a trophic ulcer appears against a background of venous disorders, then it is necessary to treat not only the site of the ulcerative lesion, but also varicose veins.
Treatment has two directions: general and local. With general treatment, the use of drugs that improve venous outflow is prescribed. For example, injections of Solcoseryl, the course of treatment of which is 20 to 30 days. In severe forms of the disease, the course of treatment should be increased.
Local treatment consists of the following:
- compliance with bed rest;
- daily treatment and cleansing of the wound with antiseptics;
- dry dressings with the use of ointments and gels (zinc ointment, Solcoseryl, Hepatrombil and others);
- Wearing elastic stockings or golf or fixing the limbs with elastic bandages.
Prescribing a course of laser therapy will have a beneficial effect on the effectiveness of treatment.
During therapeutic measures, special attention should be paid to the nutrition of the patient. At this time, it is better to exclude spicy and fatty dishes from the diet.
Trophic ulcers can be treated quite poorly and for a long time. Tissue healing is very slow or does not occur at all. Recovery of affected tissues begins 30-40 days after the start of therapy.
In the case when the healing process does not occur, a skin transplant is done. Take the skin from the thigh or buttocks and transplanted to the lesion. The implanted areas of the transplanted skin serve as additional healing sites that stimulate recovery processes around them.
If a trophic ulcer of the lower extremities occurs, then treatment should be carried out immediately and under the full supervision of a doctor.