A venous ulcer is a sore on the lower leg and usually occurs just above the ankle. These ulcers may be large or small and occur because there is a breakdown of normal tissue. The reason this occurs is because there is a long history of high pressure in the veins in your legs. This long-standing high pressure leads to the ulcer on the leg due to breakdown of normal tissue.

Venous Ulcer Treatment
Once an ulcer occurs, treatment needs to begin immediately. It is essential to reduce the pressure in the veins in the legs. Wearing compression stockings or wraps and elevating the leg are two simple ways to achieve this. The wound must also be kept clean and dry. There are many different types of dressings that can be used and studies have shown that no one dressing promotes healing over another. The main purpose of the dressing is to keep the wound as dry and clean as possible.

An ultra sound is done to determine the cause of the high pressure. This can be in the superficial system, deep system, or perforator system.

Terminal Interruption of Reflux Source
A new technique has been recently developed that can help heal venous ulcers rapidly. This is called the TIRS Technique (Terminal Interruption of Reflux Source). In simple terms, using ultra sound, a chemical solution is injected into veins draining the ulcer. This helps reduce the high pressure and promotes healing.

There are no complications known at this time.

Ron Bush, MD, FACS
Peggy Bush, APN, CNS, MSN