ABSTRACT
Chronic leg ulcers are open wounds, often below the knee, which are a significant problem in contemporary society, and are a source of frustration for approximately 2.5 million people in the United States (1). Medical costs of nonhealing wounds approach 1.5–3.5 billion dollars a year (1) and an estimated 2 million workdays per year are lost secondary to leg ulcers (1). The incidence and prevalence of these problems increase as the population ages (3). A key step in the appropriate management of a lower extremity ulcer is an accurate and prompt diagnosis. A complete history, followed by a thorough physical exam, and then finally any necessary ancillary investigations should be performed. An approach to the diagnosis of the lower extremity ulcer will be emphasized in this chapter. The most common causes of leg ulcers will be discussed, followed by a brief discussion of less common causes of leg ulcers. Please refer to Table 1 for common and uncommon causes of leg ulcers.
