Venous Ulcers Wound Care Series “My grandma wore a compression bandage everyday when she had a leg ulcer.
What is it? A venous ulcer is a wound that can happen when there is poor return of blood from the legs to the heart.
Although it was uncomfortable, her leg ulcer healed in three weeks.
Who does it affect? • More common among the elderly. • People who have had a recent operation on the leg. • People who have poor blood circulation to the leg veins.
Now, she goes for a walk every day to help improve her blood circulation. We bought her a stool so she can put her feet up while watching television.”
What causes it? When the blood return to the heart is poor, blood pressure builds up in the lower leg veins. This damages tiny blood vessels and weaken the veins. Fluid may leak out of the veins beneath the skin, causing swelling, thickening and damage to the skin. The skin eventually breaks down to form ulcer.