ABSTRACT
Chronic leg ulcers, which may have a variety of causes, are unfortunately common, particularly in the older population. The majority of these fit into the categories of arterial, diabetic, pressure, and venous ulcers. The incidence and prevalence of each of these depends upon the population that is being examined. In an elderly nursing home population, pressure sores may be the more common, whereas in a younger more active population with a high incidence of diabetes, diabetic ulcers may predominate. However, if one explores larger population groups, ulcers that are attributed to problems with the venous system are usually the most common. In wound care centers, it is said that one-half to three-fourths of the ulcers are venous in origin. These ulcers can occur in any age group and are commonly associated with significant long-term morbidity. Furthermore, from an individual as well as societal perspective, this type of ulcer is costly both in terms of the expense of treatment and lost productivity from absenteeism from work. It is the purpose of this chapter to explore both the pathophysiology and epidemiology of this type of chronic ulcer.
