19 Feb Foot ulcers – treatment and management
Foot ulcers treatment and management:-
Foot and leg ulcers are caused by a range of factors, and require timely intervention. Here is how you can help prevent – or manage – an ulcer on your feet or legs.
What is a foot or leg ulcer?
Foot and leg ulcers are open sores caused by a break in the skin that fails to heal. It is important to get treatment from a health professional such as a podiatrist, as soon as you can.
What causes foot ulcers?
Ulcers can develop for a range of reasons including blisters, open wounds, pressure or circulation problems.
Ulcers are more likely to occur when either your circulation or nerve supply in your feet and legs is damaged. Ulcers may develop from blisters caused by incorrectly fitting shoes, from injuries and skin tears, and from pressure due to loss of feeling in the feet. Ulcers on the feet and legs increase the risk of amputation particularly in people with diabetes.
How do you manage ulcers?
Prevention is better than cure. Check your skin daily and treat all open wounds immediately. Wash your feet daily, apply moisturiser to the skin and wear protective footwear such as socks and shoes.
If an ulcer develops consult a health professional as soon as possible. Podiatrists can manage your wound care, advise on correctly fitting footwear and supply and fit padding or special shoes to manage pressure areas. In some cases, you may need to have a walking boot or plaster cast on your foot to assist the ulcer to heal.
What is the best treatment?
Ulcers should be treated by a podiatrist (or wound specialist) who can remove the dead tissue in the wound and provide appropriate dressings to encourage the tissue to heal.
Prevention of infection is very important when treating ulcers, and sometimes an x-ray may be required to see whether an infection has spread to the bone. If you have circulation problems, you may need to see a vascular surgeon to improve the blood flow to your feet.
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