Leg Wounds

Leg Wounds services offered in San Antonio, TX

About 1% of adults in the United States have leg wounds or leg ulcers. At Texas Cardiac and Vascular Specialists in San Antonio, Texas, the highly trained vascular surgery team treats non-healing leg wounds to reduce their risk of returning. Schedule an evaluation by calling the office or requesting an appointment online today.

What are leg wounds?

Leg wounds, or leg ulcers, are wounds that develop on the legs or feet. While they sometimes heal on their own, healing may be delayed, and some wounds don’t heal at all without medical intervention — particularly in individuals with diabetes, venous diseases, or other conditions.

Leg ulcers often appear between the knees and ankles and typically take more than two weeks to heal despite treatment. They may ooze pus or fluid. Leg wounds are considered chronic conditions if they don’t heal after three months of undergoing treatment.

What are the risk factors for leg wounds?

Leg wounds affect about 4% of people over 65. Other risk factors include:

Diabetes
High blood pressure
Rheumatoid arthritis
Chronic venous insufficiency
Peripheral artery disease (PAD)
Obesity
Pregnancy
Family history of vein problems
Hip or knee replacement procedures
Broken bones or other traumatic injuries
Smoking
Lack of exercise
Vasculitis (inflamed blood vessels)
Blood clots
Varicose veins
Being female

Women are twice as likely as men to have leg ulcers (wounds).

What are the symptoms of leg or foot wounds?

Symptoms of leg or foot wounds include:

Wounds that are red, brown, blue, purple, yellow, or mixed colors
Non-healing wounds emitting liquid discharge or pus
Itchy skin
Hardened skin
Hard lumps on the skin
Leg pain after standing
Swelling in the lower legs

Wounds in the legs or feet that don’t heal after two weeks of treatment are concerning. See a specialist at the first sign of a problem.

How are leg wounds diagnosed?

Diagnosing leg wounds and their cause involves a discussion about your medical history and symptoms, a vital signs check, physical exam, and diagnostic tests. Your provider examines the wound and may complete ankle-brachial index testing, ultrasound, a biopsy, or other diagnostic procedures.

How are leg wounds treated?

Texas Cardiac and Vascular Specialists offers the following treatments for leg wounds or their underlying cause:

Bandage or stocking compression
Leg elevation
Antibiotics
Debridement
Topical antiseptics
Specialized bandages
Sclerotherapy
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy
Skin grafting
Lifestyle changes
Surgery

The Texas Cardiac and Vascular Specialists team offers endovascular treatment to repair, remove, replace, or bypass damaged veins. They may refer you to another specialist to help you effectively manage diabetes or another underlying medical problem.

Healthy lifestyle habits that reduce the risk of leg wounds include healthy weight management, not smoking, proper chronic disease management, skin moisturizers, and compression stockings to optimize blood flow in the legs.

Schedule a leg or foot wound evaluation at Texas Cardiac and Vascular Specialists by calling the office or requesting an appointment online today.