Limb ulcers and peripheral vascular disease

Limb ulcers are broken or ulcerated limbs that occur on the body. The vast majority of patients think that they have to see a dermatologist or surgeon if they have an extremity ulcer, but they do not know that many extremity ulcers, especially those that are difficult to heal and close, are caused by peripheral vascular diseases. Peripheral vascular diseases that cause limb ulcers can be divided into two main categories. Arterial diseases occur at the end of the limb and are painful and intense. The ulcers are characterized by irregular edges at first and later jagged, with grayish-white granulation tissue covering the bottom. It does not bleed easily when touched. These diseases are often preceded by ischemic manifestations of the limb before they break in the early stages: such as coldness, coldness, soreness, numbness, and pain in the limb, which is especially pronounced at night. The main arterial diseases causing limb ulcers are: atherosclerotic occlusive disease, thrombo-occlusive vasculitis, diabetic vasculopathy, Raynaud’s syndrome, etc. Since most of the ulcers caused by arterial diseases are ischemic ulcers, their treatment should focus on improving the ischemic state of the limb. The treatment methods include: localized daily routine dressing change or Chinese medicine to clear the wound. Intravenous drip vasodilators and blood-stasis activating drugs: 10ug of Kaishi injection once a day for 10-14 days; 350mg of thromboxane injection or 400mg-600mg of hemosiderin injection once a day for 14 days. According to the evidence of Chinese medicine, take oral herbal soup to activate blood circulation, remove blood stasis and astringent sores. Perform whole-body medicated bath treatment or localized herbal infusion. Symptomatic treatment, such as control of hypertension, hyperlipidemia and diabetes mellitus and other primary diseases. Venous disease is characterized by a shallow, irregular ulcer that is larger in size and bleeds easily when touched, and occurs in the distal 1/3 of the lower leg above the inner and outer ankle. It does not usually cause pain. The main venous diseases causing limb ulcers are varicose veins of the lower extremities, deep venous reflux disorders, and sequelae of acute deep vein thrombosis. Since most of the ulcers caused by venous diseases are stasis ulcers, their treatment should be based on improving the circulatory status of the limbs and promoting blood return. The treatment methods include: daily routine dressing change on the traumatic surface or Chinese medicine to clear the wound. Intravenous Danshen injection, 40ml each time, once a day for 28 days, or Chuanxiongzin injection 200mg once a day for 14 days. According to the evidence of Chinese medicine, oral herbal tonics are taken to strengthen the spleen, benefit the qi, relieve dampness, reduce swelling and astringent sores, and close the mouth. Perform pneumatic blood circulation drive treatment and sequential decompression support belt (decompression stockings). For some ulcers that do not heal for a long time, treatment with instruments such as microwave irradiation is available. In conclusion, limb ulcers caused by peripheral vascular diseases often bring great inconvenience to people’s work and life because of their chronic, difficult-to-heal and healing-prone recurrence characteristics. In particular, ulcers caused by arterial diseases can eventually lead to serious consequences of amputation or finger (toe) amputation if they are not controlled in a timely and effective manner. For limb ulcers, especially chronic ulcers that do not heal, the treatment of traditional Chinese medicine has more characteristics and is more effective in accelerating the healing of ulcers and reducing the rate of amputation or finger (toe) amputation. Therefore, patients with limb ulcers should not forget to see the peripheral vascular department.