Lower Extremity Ulcers: The Importance of Early Expert Wound Care

A lower extremity ulcer is a wound on your leg, ankle, or foot that takes longer than two weeks to heal, even when you attempt to treat it. While it might be easy to chalk such an injury up to a simple cut worth ignoring, bypassing early intervention may have serious consequences. 

At Babak Kosari, DPM, in Northridge and Santa Clarita, California, board-certified foot and ankle surgeon Babak Kosari, DPM, FACFAS, treats lower extremity wounds in patients of all ages. Read on to learn more if you’re dealing with a stubborn wound on your ankle, leg, or foot.

What causes lower extremity ulcers?

Anything that breaks the skin in your lower extremities can lead to a slow-healing ulcer. Common causes include stepping on a sharp object, dropping something on your foot, and taking a spill. 

While anyone can develop such an ulcer, having a bunion, diabetes, neuropathy, or poor circulation can raise your risk significantly. Diabetes and nerve damage also make wound complications more likely.

Reasons to seek early expert wound care 

If a lower extremity ulcer carries on without effective treatment, you can experience a range of complications, such as pain, infection, and tissue death. Left untreated, an infection that starts in your leg or foot wound can spread to your blood, causing a serious condition called sepsis. Infection and tissue death can even lead to the eventual need for foot or leg amputation.

If you have poor circulation or nerve damage, both of which can stem from diabetes, you may not notice that you have a wound or infection due to reduced sensation. This is problematic, as up to 50% of diabetes-related foot ulcers lead to amputation.

Low extremity ulcer treatment

If you have a wound that’s healing slowly, if at all, schedule an exam with Dr, Kosari ASAP. You could also benefit from an assessment if you notice cracked, crusty, or discolored skin, or skin that’s red, tight, or shiny. If your ulcer is swollen, warm to the touch, or seeping blood or pus — possible signs of an infection — come in as soon as possible.

Once Dr. Kosari assesses your wound, symptoms, and overall health, he’ll create an appropriate treatment plan. Your recommended care options may include:

• A cast or splint
• Antiplatelet medications
• Compression garments
• Custom orthotics 
• Debridement (infected tissue removal)
• Elevation and rest
• Laser therapy
• Topical wound care
• Wound drainage

If you already have an infection, you may receive oral or topical antibiotics. Your wound care plan may include a follow-up exam, as well.

To ensure proper healing and stave off complications from your lower extremity ulcer, call your nearest Babak Kosari, DPM, office in Northridge or Santa Clarita, California, today. You can also use our online scheduler to book an appointment at your convenience.