A wound that won’t heal is frustrating and concerning, especially if it’s on your leg. These non-healing leg ulcers typically indicate an underlying issue that needs medical attention, and vascular surgeons can ideally provide the comprehensive wound care you need.
If you have a leg ulcer that isn’t improving, it’s time to visit us at Vascular Surgery Associates, LLC. Our specialists diagnose and treat circulation problems, which are often the root cause of chronic wounds.
A leg ulcer is an open sore that doesn’t heal properly within a few weeks. Unlike regular wounds, these ulcers can become chronic, leading to pain, infection, and serious complications. Common symptoms include:
Chronic wounds like these affect 2.5% of the United States population – over 8.5 million people.
Most leg ulcers develop due to poor circulation and/or nerve damage. Restricted blood flow to the legs means wounds don’t receive enough oxygen and nutrients to heal completely. Some of the leading causes of leg ulcers include:
Poor blood flow in the veins (often due to damaged valves) leads to fluid buildup, tissue breakdown, and swelling and can develop into venous ulcers.
Patients with PAD have narrowed arteries that limit blood flow to the legs, depriving the tissue of oxygen and causing arterial ulcers to form.
High blood sugar can damage nerves (diabetic neuropathy) and blood vessels, leading to diabetic ulcers. In the United States, 82% of vascular-related lower limb amputations occur in people with diabetes.
Vascular surgeons specialize in conditions affecting blood vessels. If your leg ulcer isn’t healing, we can determine its underlying cause and recommend the best treatment.
First, we perform a diagnostic consultation, evaluating your medical history and performing tests such as:
Ultrasound is a noninvasive procedure that uses sound waves to evaluate how blood flows through your legs.
ABI measures blood pressure in your ankles compared to your arms to assess circulation.
Taking samples from the wound for lab analysis helps identify infections or underlying conditions.
Understanding the cause of your ulcer is key to finding the correct treatment.
We create comprehensive wound care plans for patients with leg ulcers that may include:
Advanced wound dressings are vital in managing non-healing leg ulcers by promoting healing, preventing infection, and maintaining moisture balance.
Examples include hydrocolloid dressings that form a gel to keep wounds moist and support tissue renewal, alginate dressings derived from seaweed that help absorb wound drainage and promote clotting, and collagen dressings that trigger tissue regeneration and provide a scaffold for cell growth.
The most appropriate dressing depends on the wound’s condition. We can recommend the best option for optimal healing.
If poor circulation prevents your ulcer from healing, our vascular surgeons can perform minimally invasive treatments to restore blood flow. The most common approaches include:
Minimally invasive varicose veins and venous insufficiency treatments employ various methods to close off diseased veins. We use sclerotherapy, Varithena® Microfoam Vein Treatment, and the VenaSeal™ Closure System.
Peripheral artery angioplasty is a procedure to open narrowed arteries and improve circulation in patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD).
The primary reason to see a vascular surgeon for non-healing ulcers is to get access to experts for these procedures. That way, you receive treatments that resolve the problem’s underlying cause in addition to specialized wound care.
You should seek medical help if you have diabetes, poor circulation, or a history of blood clots and develop a leg ulcer. We also recommend you visit us if:
Your leg ulcer doesn’t improve after several weeks of initial treatment
You have swelling, pain, or discoloration around the ulcer
You notice signs of infection like pus, odor, or warmth
You experience numbness or tingling in your legs (a sign of nerve damage)
A non-healing leg ulcer is more than just a wound — it’s a sign that something isn’t right with your circulation. Seeing a vascular surgeon can help you get the correct diagnosis and treatment to prevent complications and improve healing.
If your ulcer isn’t improving with basic care, don’t wait. Schedule an appointment with our vascular specialists by phone or via the online booking form today.
