Introduction to arterial leg ulcers

Arterial leg ulcers are caused by peripheral arterial disease. Peripheral arterial disease is atherosclerotic disease of the arteries in the extremities. Peripheral arterial disease affects 10 to 25% of people older than 55 years. Although the majority of patients are asymptomatic and never require revascularisation, patients with peripheral arterial disease have three times the risk of all-cause mortality and six times the risk of death from coronary artery disease.

A clinical assessment, including history and physical examination (with emphasis on peripheral pulse palpation), detects peripheral arterial disease in most cases. Arterial leg ulcers can be spontaneous or associated with trauma.

Determining the cause of a leg ulcer is essential to guide management; see c_lwg2-c10-s1.html#lwg2-c10-s1__tlwg2-c01-tbl1 for advice on determining the vascular cause of a leg ulcer. An overview of assessment and management of arterial leg ulcers is provided in Overview of assessment and management of arterial leg ulcers.

The majority of arterial ulcers are on the foot. Management of arterial foot ulcers is the same as for arterial leg ulcers. See also Wounds on a high-risk foot.