Leg Ulcer: Causes & Reasons

Warning: Do not use in emergencies, if pregnant, if under 18, or as a substitute for a doctor’s advice or diagnosis. Learn more

Possible Causes for Leg Ulcer

Varicose Veins

A venous leg ulcer (a break in the skin below the knee that has not healed within 2 weeks). [nice.org.uk]

[…] veins, "hidden varicose veins", thread veins, swollen or aching legs or venous leg ulcers. [markwhiteley.co.uk]

“Fortunately, fewer -- around 5 percent -- have worse symptoms like ankle skin changes and leg ulcers.” [web.archive.org]

Stasis Dermatitis

[…] for around 15% of chronic leg ulcers. [epainassist.com]

Chronic leg ulcers and eczema. In: Hafner, J, Ramelet, A-A, Schmeller, W, Brunner, UV, eds. Management of Leg Ulcers. Current Problems in Dermatology. vol. 27. [journals.sagepub.com]

This abnormally increased vein pressure causes skin damage to the legs and leads to chronic leg ulcers. [epainassist.com]

Varicose Ulcer

Where do venous leg ulcers develop? Venous leg ulcers are most often located on the inside of the lower leg. [jobst.com]

Venous leg ulcers, also known as stasis ulcers or varicose ulcers, result from inadequate blood flow in your legs that causes blood to pool in your veins. [livestrong.com]

What causes leg ulcers? Leg ulcers are caused by two main problems in developed countries. [anzsvs.org.au]

Venous Stasis Ulcer

Venous leg ulcers can be painful or painless. [lvradiology.com]

Venous stasis ulcers mostly occur in the lower leg between the knee and ankle. [sierravein.com]

ulcers on the legs with hyperbaric oxygen (no abstract) Few have looked exclusively at the effect on venous stasis ulcers. [oceansidehyperbaric.ca]

Diabetic Foot Ulcer

Causes, investigation and treatment of leg ulceration. Br J Dermatol. 2003, 148: 388-401. Gonsalves CF. Venous leg ulcers. [clevelandclinicmeded.com]

Around one per cent of the Australian population suffers from leg ulcers (chronic venous leg ulceration). [betterhealth.vic.gov.au]

This is a chronic leg ulcer. What causes leg ulcers? The most common underlying problem causing chronic leg ulcers is disease of the veins of the leg. [circulationfoundation.org.uk]

Tropical Phagedenic Ulcer

Systemic therapy for leg ulcers. Indian Dermatol Online J 2014;5:539-40 Sir, The article venous leg ulcer: Systemic therapy by B Nair [1] was very well-written. [idoj.in]

Leg ulcer (Venous ulcer or stasis dermatitis) Leg ulcer is caused by venous insufficiency, which leads to fluid and blood cells leaking from the veins into the skin and other [firstderm.com]

It usually remains for five to seven days and heals within two weeks with no scarring. chronic leg ulcer ulceration of the lower leg caused by peripheral vascular disease [medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com]

Postphlebitic Syndrome

Leg ulcers are long-term complications of DVT and will not be observable in patients presenting with acute thromboembolism. [symptoma.com]

Community leg ulcer clinics: effect on quality of life. Phlebology. 1994;9:83–6. Google Scholar 29. Hyland ME, Thomson B. [link.springer.com]

The book discusses vascular factors in the management of leg ulcers and the interrelationship of venous disorders with ischemia and other conditions. [books.google.de]

Pyoderma Gangrenosum

What Are Leg Ulcers? Leg ulcers form when skin on your leg breaks open. These breaks or sores let air and bacteria travel into your skin’s tissue. [healthcare.utah.edu]

Overview What Are Leg Ulcers? What Are Leg Ulcers? Leg ulcers form when skin on your leg breaks open. [healthcare.utah.edu]

[…] role in the refractory nature of leg ulcers for PGA patients. [jamanetwork.com]

Sickle Cell Anemia

The third patient had sickle cell trait with an extensive leg ulcer that was associated with epidermoid carcinoma. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

ulcers and priapism. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy in the Treatment of Sickle Cell Leg Ulcers. J. Hyperbaric Med 1991; 6(1):1-4. [archive.rubicon-foundation.org]

Hereditary Spherocytosis

Taylor (1939) reported a case of chronic leg ulcer in HS. [4] In our case both the patient's and his mother's main problem was recurrent leg ulceration, that too started at [ijdvl.com]

However, complete clearance of the leg ulcer was not achieved until two months after a splenectomy. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Less common complications include leg ulcers, extramedullary hematopoietic tumors, priapism, spinocerebellar degenerative syndromes, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and movement [visualdx.com]

Felty Syndrome

This is a case report of a black woman with Felty's syndrome, who had recurrent, severe leg ulcers refractive to the usual treatment. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Felty's syndrome is characterized by neutropenia, splenomegaly, and leg ulcers in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Features of vasculitis - leg ulcers, brown pigmentation on the legs, periungual infarcts, ischaemia of the extremities. Peripheral neuropathy. [patient.info]

Cryoglobulinemia

We describe a case of HCV-positive type I cryoglobulinemia with severe leg ulcers, not responsive to antiviral and immunosuppressive treatment. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Clinical manifestations included leg ulcers, livedo reticularis, renal failure, and peripheral neuropathy. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

We describe a case of a 79-year-old woman with a non-cirrhotic hepatitis C virus infection presenting with weakness, arthralgias, purpuric rash with left leg ulcerative lesions [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Klinefelter Syndrome

We present a man with refractory leg ulcers, bilateral varicosis of the lower extremities, and Buerger disease. Autoimmune work-up was negative. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

A case of KFS with post acne scars and leg ulcers is presented, who responded well to testosterone replacement therapy with complete healing of the leg ulcers. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

The leg ulcers in patients with Klinefelter syndrome are usually attributed to venous insufficiency. [pathopedia-india.com]

Pyruvate Kinase Deficiency

A splenectomy was performed and the leg ulcer was treated un-successfully with a pinch graft. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Among the symptoms of pyruvate kinase deficiency are: Mild to severe hemolytic Anemia Cholecystolithiasis Tachycardia Hemochromatosis Icteric sclera Splenomegaly Leg ulcers [en.wikipedia.org]

Adults may have chronic leg ulcers. Differential diagnosis Other causes of haemolytic anaemia. [patient.info]

Buruli Ulcer

Infection leads to destruction of skin and soft tissue with large ulcers usually on the legs or arms. [web.archive.org]

These other conditions include tropical phagedenic ulcers, chronic lower leg ulcers due to arterial and venous insufficiency (often in the older and elderly populations), [who.int]

Ulcer bed infection. Report of a case of enlarging venous leg ulcer colonized by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. APMIS 1998;106:721-6. 27. [bmbtrj.org]

Peripheral Vascular Disease

In nondiabetic patients, statistically significant differences in leg-ulcer healing were found between the treatment and placebo groups. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Such blockages are sometimes associated with non-healing leg wounds or ulcers, which in dire cases may threaten limb viability. [heart.ucla.edu]

If the leg is even slightly injured, ulcers may form because, without a good blood supply, proper healing can not take place. [medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com]

Congenital Heinz Body Hemolytic Anemia

ulcers, bilirubin gallstones Neonatal syndromes (hemoglobin Poole and hemoglobin Hasharon [γ-globin variants]) Neonatal hemolysis – jaundice, anemia Resolves with aging as [arupconsult.com]

Leg Ulcers 5. Auto-splenectomy. 6. Crisis* Splenic atrophy – (Auto-infarction) 16. The power of thought is not a compelling force. [slideshare.net]

Leg ulcers. After all of the disasters mentioned above, this seems trivial. [web2.iadfw.net]

Thromboangiitis Obliterans

587 Major Amputation of the Lower Extremity for Critical Limb Ischemia 603 Extremity Replantation or Transplantation 618 The Importance of a Multidisciplinary Approach to Leg [books.google.ro]

An abnormal Allen test [ 7, 19 ] in a young smoker presenting with leg ulcerations is highly suggestive of TAO. [doi.org]

Ulcers 625 Appropriate Endpoints for Chronic Limb Ischemia 629 Economic Burden of Chronic Critical Limb Ischemia 637 The LongTerm Care of Patients with Critical Limb Ischemia [books.google.ro]

Anticardiolipin Antibody Syndrome

Other features include: Splinter haemorrhage (one or more red or black streaks on a nail) Leg ulcers, both arterial and venous ulcers Superficial thrombophlebitis Blue toe [dermnetnz.org]

You may see edema, claudication, blue-toe syndrome, necrotizing purpura, and leg ulcers that may be painful. [journals.lww.com]

leg ulcerations, varicose veins or signs of venous stasis, signs of DVT/PE, loud pulmonary 2 (P2), regurgitant murmur, digital gangrene, abdominal pain, or ascites (mesenteric [clinicaladvisor.com]

Antiphospholipid Syndrome

RESULTS: Clinical manifestations included leg ulcers, livedo reticularis, renal failure, and peripheral neuropathy. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

CASE SUMMARY: A 50-year-old woman with the antiphospholipid syndrome, manifesting clinically with recurrent pyoderma gangrenosum-like leg ulcers, was treated with apixaban [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Other features include: Splinter haemorrhage (one or more red or black streaks on a nail) Leg ulcers, both arterial and venous ulcers Superficial thrombophlebitis Blue toe [dermnetnz.org]

Beta Thalassaemia Major

Common symptoms include pallor, jaundice, leg ulcers, gallstones (cholelithiasis), and abnormal enlargement of the liver and spleen. [rarediseases.org]

Other symptoms include: poor growth pallor jaundice enlargement of the liver and spleen due to the breakdown of red cells containing the abnormal hemoglobin leg ulcers bone [news-medical.net]

Patients may have splenomegaly and bone deformities, recurrent leg ulcers, gallstones and infections. [myvmc.com]

Venous Thrombosis

Ulcers [columbiasurgery.org]

This condition is characterized by pooling of blood, chronic leg swelling, increased pressure, increased pigmentation or discoloration of the skin, and leg ulcers known as [my.clevelandclinic.org]

Mesenteric Arterial Occlusive Disease Sclerotherapy for Vein Disease Spider Veins Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (Vascular) Thrombophlebitis Varicose Veins Vein Disease Overview Venous Leg [columbiasurgery.org]

Dracunculiasis

Its victims develop large ulcers, usually in the lower leg. [who.int]

Pelt quality is not impaired by the worm's presence for the ulcerations occur only on the legs. [web.archive.org]

The ulcers swell, at times to the size of a tennis ball, and burst, releasing a spaghetti-like parasitic worm ranging in length from 550-800 millimetres (0.5-0.8 metres). [who.int]

Polyarteritis Nodosa

In June 2001, she was aware of edema and pain in both lower legs. At the same time, indurated erythemas and ulcers are seen on her lower legs. [ci.nii.ac.jp]

skin ulcers and/or nodules. [therapeutique-dermatologique.org]

[Necrotic leg ulcers induced by vitamin K antagonists: five cases]. Ann Dermatol Venereol. 2011 Oct. 138(10):657-63. [Medline]. [medscape.com]

Vasculitis

Typical clinical features include weight loss, fever, numbness or weakness due to damaged nerves and leg ulcers, but it is important to recognise that leg ulcers occur in [nras.org.uk]

You may have: pain skin discoloration lesions, which are usually seen on the legs ulcers on the skin or genitals, or in the mouth In some cases, the condition may be limited [healthline.com]

Rheumatoid Arthritis

In this paper, we present a Japanese woman with RA, who suffered from bilateral leg ulcers secondary to DC. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Felty's syndrome (enlarged spleen and low white cell count); can present with an infection or leg ulcer. Amyloidosis (rare). Anaemia. [patient.info]

Although the ulcers on her left leg were gradually epithelialized after one year, they may easily recur due to whitish abnormal underlying tissues, and a large ulcer remains [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Arteriosclerosis

[…] of right leg with ulceration of toe heel I70.434 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code I70.434 Atherosclerosis of autologous vein bypass graft(s) of the right leg with ulceration of heel [icd10data.com]

The management of the chronically ischemic leg with ulcer formation that is not suitable for either surgical or interventional treatment is still a matter of controversy. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

The patient had renal dysfunction and nephrotic syndrome with progressive skin ulcers in the left leg. The patient was diagnosed as ASO with LCDD. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Skin

legs Size varies from a few millimetres to several centimetres in diameter. [dermnetnz.org]

Non-sun-exposed sites Sites of chronic scarring Non-healed leg ulcers Anus Early squamous cell carcinoma appears as a small, pink to red, scaly spot. [skinsight.com]

[…] occupation or recreation Smoking Fair skin, blue eyes and blond or red hair Previous cutaneous injury, thermal burn, disease (eg cutaneous lupus, epidermolysis bullosa, leg [dermnetnz.org]

Femoral Artery Occlusion

We present a case of progressive right common femoral artery stenosis resulting in resting leg ischemia and ulceration that was temporally related to multiple ipsilateral [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

"Doppler assessment and ABPI: Interpretation in the management of leg ulceration". Worldwide Wounds. [en.wikipedia.org]

Other symptoms include numbness or weakness in the legs, aching pain in the feet or toes while at rest, nonhealing ulcers on the leg or foot, cold legs or feet, and skin color [marmur.com]

Diabetes Mellitus

See Diabetic Foot, Leg Ulcers, Painful Foot. Frequent, recurrent and persistent infections. [patient.info]

See Diabetic Foot, Leg Ulcers and Painful Foot. Frequent, recurrent and persistent infections. [patient.info]