Epidemiological Study of Ulcers of the Lower Limb in a Tertiary Care Teaching Institute

Lower limb ulcers are common in old age group there areseveral causes which includes venous valve insufficiency,diabetes mellitus, skin malignancies. We in the present studytried to evaluate the epidemiology of population affected withlower limb ulcers and treatment and outcome of suchconditions.Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in theDepartment of General Surgery, Prathima Institute of MedicalSciences, Nagnur, Karimnagar. All cases of leg ulcers reportingto this institute except those which occur due to trauma andin children < 12 years of age were included in the study.Result: In the study n=50 cases of both sexes with leg ulcerswere included. The most commonly involved age group was >70 years. Diabetic ulcers were detected in 44% of cases in malesand 18% of cases in females. In the cases right limb was involvedin n=24(48%) cases and left limb was involved in n=23(46%) ofcases and bilateral involvement was found in n=3(6%) of cases.The predominating organism found was Staphylococcusaureusfollowed by Klebsiellaand streptococcus.Conclusion: The study found that found to be ulcer of the legassociated with diabetes mellitus, ulcer due to venous valveincompetence. The diabetic ulcer was more common in males,more prevalent in patients above the age of 51 years. Venousulcers are commonly seen are saphenofemoral junctionincompetence and perforator incompetence. As far as thetreatment of these cases is concerned the use of antibioticsand dressings helps to a great deal in management. Skingrafting may be considered with wide defects where healing isdifficult without grafts.