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

Lower limb ulcers are common in old age group there are several causes which includes venous valve insufficiency, diabetes mellitus, skin malignancies. We in the present study tried to evaluate the epidemiology of population affected with lower limb ulcers and treatment and outcome of such conditions. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of General Surgery, Prathima Institute of Medical Sciences, Nagnur, Karimnagar. All cases of leg ulcers reporting to this institute except those which occur due to trauma and in children < 12 years of age were included in the study. Result: In the study n=50 cases of both sexes with leg ulcers were included. The most commonly involved age group was > 70 years. Diabetic ulcers were detected in 44% of cases in males and 18% of cases in females. In the cases right limb was involved in n=24(48%) cases and left limb was involved in n=23(46%) of cases and bilateral involvement was found in n=3(6%) of cases. The predominating organism found was Staphylococcus aureusfollowed by Klebsiellaand streptococcus. Conclusion: The study found that found to be ulcer of the leg associated with diabetes mellitus, ulcer due to venous valve incompetence. The diabetic ulcer was more common in males, more prevalent in patients above the age of 51 years. Venous ulcers are commonly seen are saphenofemoral junction incompetence and perforator incompetence. As far as the treatment of these cases is concerned the use of antibiotics and dressings helps to a great deal in management. Skin grafting may be considered with wide defects where healing is difficult without graft