[Venous ulcers of the lower limbs in the aged. Indications for bandages].

BACKGROUND

There are many causes of ulcer of the lower limb. In the elderly, venous ulcers and arteriosclerosis often coexist; for this reason pressure bandages might be contraindicated for the risk of precipitating a potentially critical arterial flow. In this work, the conditions which allow a safely treatment with pressure bandage in the elderly are evaluated.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

Eleven self-sufficient elderly, with venous ulcerations to one leg only, and ankle pressure/omeral pressure between 0.92 and 0.86 were treated with elastic bandaging of the leg.

RESULTS

All patients completed the treatment, with healing of the ulcer obtained in 3-8 months time. So far none of them relapsed.

CONCLUSIONS

In the elderly, in selected cases, when Pc/Po > 0.86, pressure bandages can be safely applied to heal the ulcer, without running the risk of endangering arterial circulation.