Understanding leg ulceration associated with Intravenous drug use

Clinicians are reporting a rise in numbers of people with leg ulceration and a history of injecting drug use. These tend to be younger people with little co-morbidity. The ulceration may appear long after injecting has ceased and may be long-standing before an individual seeks help. The ulcers are often but not always, venous, and are closely associated with femoral injecting and a history of thrombosis in the limb. Assessment and management is similar to non-injectors, but there are usually differences in social circumstances that impact on care choices. Unfortunately there is a dearth of evidence related to leg ulceration in this population