Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI) with Ulcus Cruris

Chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) denotes the stages of chronic venous weakness in the lower extremities. According to Widmer, the following stages are defined, which can be passed through in the course of years, particularly if left untreated: I – corona phlebectatica, ankle edema; II – trophic skin lesions, dermatitis, hyperpigmentation, dermatoliposclerosis; IIIa – healed ulcus cruris venosum; IIIb open ulcus cruris venosum. A new classification (CEAP Classification) reflects differentiated clinical, etiological, anatomical and pathophysiological characteristics of CVI. Because of its prevalence (ca. 12–15% of the population) CVI is of great socio-economic importance [Schultz-Ehrenburg et al., 1989; Marshall, 1989; Bartolo, 1992; Uber and Graf von der Schulenburg, 1995; Franks et al., 1995; Fowkes, 1996].