A colour Doppler ultrasound study of venous reflux in patients with chronic leg ulcers.

OBJECTIVES: to evaluate the distribution of superficial and deep venous reflux in patients with chronic leg ulcers. MATERIALS: retrospective study of 186 patients with chronic leg ulcers (212 lower limbs). RESULTS: in 127 legs without arterial disease and a history of deep venous thrombosis (DVT), 62 (49%) had superficial, 45 (35%) had superficial and deep, and 14 (11%) had isolated deep venous reflux. In legs with a previous DVT, isolated deep venous reflux was more common (21/55, 38%) but superficial reflux, often in combination with deep reflux, still predominated (56%). CONCLUSIONS: a large part of the venous insufficiency causing venous leg ulcers is superficial and suitable for varicose vein surgery. In patients with chronic leg ulcers most reflux affects the superficial system and is potentially suitable for surgical correction.     

Standardised method of surgical treatment of chronic leg ulcers.

Healing and recurrence rates were compared in leg ulcers of different aetiology in 385 patients with 406 chronic leg ulcers. Standard treatment was excision of the ulcer followed by meshed split-skin grafting and correction of superficial venous insufficiency in the area. The median age of the patients was 75 years (range 16-95). After one year 345 patients with 357 leg ulcers were alive. Overall healing rate was 64% (227 in 357 legs) after one year. The best results were achieved in traumatic ulcers (31 in 36 ulcers) and worst for the arterial ulcers (4 in 20 ulcers). Recurrence rate in venous and venous/ischaemic ulcers was 14% (33 in 235 legs) and 8% (n=3) in the traumatic ulcers. Vasculitic ulcers tend to recur 59% (n=10), but the graft does relieve pain.     

Standardised method of surgical treatment of chronic leg ulcers

Healing and recurrence rates were compared in leg ulcers of different aetiology in 385 patients with 406 chronic leg ulcers. Standard treatment was excision of the ulcer followed by meshed split-skin grafting and correction of superficial venous insufficiency in the area. The median age of the patients was 75 years (range 16–95). After one year 345 patients with 357 leg ulcers were alive. Overall healing rate was 64% (227 in 357 legs) after one year. The best results were achieved in traumatic ulcers (31 in 36 ulcers) and worst for the arterial ulcers (4 in 20 ulcers). Recurrence rate in venous and venous/ischaemic ulcers was 14% (33 in 235 legs) and 8% (n=3) in the traumatic ulcers. Vasculitic ulcers tend to recur 59% (n=10), but the graft does relieve pain.     

Surgical correction of isolated superficial venous reflux reduces long-term recurrence rate in chronic venous leg ulcers.

OBJECTIVES: surgical correction of isolated superficial venous reflux in ulcerated legs may reduce short term recurrence rates but the longer term benefits are unknown. DESIGN: prospective non-randomised cohort study. METHODS: consecutive patients with chronic leg ulcers were prospectively assessed at a one-stop clinic over a 4-year period from July 1995 to July 1999. All patients with ankle brachial pressure indices (ABPI)50.85 were initially treated with weekly four-layer bandaging. Venous duplex studies in all ulcerated legs assessed venous reflux pattern with surgery being offered to all those with isolated superficial reflux, of whom 56% accepted. Patients were advised to wear class two elastic compression stockings after healing. RESULTS: 766 legs in 669 patients were assessed. Six hundred and thirty-three legs had an ABPI50.85, 236 (39%) demonstrating isolated superficial venous reflux. Surgery was performed on 131 of these legs. Twelve and 24 week healing rates were 50% and 72% for operated legs and 62% and 74% for non-operated legs (p=0.67; Kaplan-Meier life table analysis). Recurrence rates at 1, 2 and 3 years were 14%, 20% and 26% for operated legs and 28%, 30% and 44% for non-operated legs (p=0.03; Kaplan-Meier life table analysis). CONCLUSION: surgical correction of superficial venous reflux in legs with chronic leg ulceration may reduce ulcer recurrence rate at 1, 2 and 3 years.     

Management of mixed arterial and venous leg ulcers

BACKGROUND: The aim was to assess healing in patients with mixed arterial and venous leg ulcers after protocol-driven treatment in a specialist leg ulcer clinic. METHODS: The study included consecutive patients referred with leg ulceration and venous reflux over 6 years. Legs without arterial disease (ankle : brachial pressure index (ABPI) above 0.85) were treated with multilayer compression bandaging and patients with severe disease (ABPI 0.5 or less) were considered for immediate revascularization. Those with moderate arterial compromise (ABPI above 0.5 up to 0.85) were initially managed with supervised modified compression and considered for revascularization if their ulcer did not heal. Healing rates were determined using life-table analysis. RESULTS: Of 2011 ulcerated legs, 1416 (70.4 per cent) had venous reflux. Of these 1416, 193 (13.6 per cent) had moderate and 31 (2.2 per cent) had severe arterial disease. Healing rates by 36 weeks were 87, 68 and 53 per cent for legs with insignificant, moderate and severe arterial disease respectively (P < 0.001). Seventeen legs with moderate and 15 with severe arterial disease were revascularized. Of these, ulcers healed in four legs with moderate and seven with severe disease within 36 weeks of revascularization (P = 0.270). Combined 30-day mortality for revascularization was 6.5 per cent. CONCLUSION: A protocol including supervised modified compression and selective revascularization achieved good healing rates for mixed arterial and venous leg ulceration.     

Aetiology of chronic leg ulcers.

This study was undertaken to determine the relative prevalence of the factors causing chronic ulceration of the leg in the general population. Two hundred and fifty-nine patients with chronic ulceration of the leg were found on screening a Western Australian population of 238,000. (The prevalence of chronic ulceration of the leg was 1.1 per 1000 population.) Two hundred and forty-two of these patients (93%) with 286 chronically ulcerated limbs were fully assessed to determine the factors contributing to ulceration. In 239 limbs (84%) ulceration involved the leg; in these limbs venous disease was the most prevalent cause of ulceration (160 limbs). Arterial disease was found in 66 limbs, with both venous and arterial disease present in 35 limbs. Rheumatoid arthritis was a causative factor in 27 limbs and diabetes was found with 29 limbs with ulceration involving the leg. In 47 limbs (16%) ulceration was confined to the foot; arterial disease (35 limbs) and diabetes (23 limbs) were the most prevalent causes of ulceration in these limbs. Venous disease was infrequent (three limbs). No disorder of the circulation was found in 48 limbs (20%) with ulceration involving the leg, and in 58 (20%) of all ulcerated limbs. More than one aetiological factor was present in 93 limbs (33%). A cause for ulceration was not found in 10 limbs (3.5%).     

Low-frequency ultrasound treatment of chronic venous ulcers

In a randomized controlled clinical trial, the properties of low-frequency ultrasound in the treatment of chronic venous ulcers were investigated. Thirty-eight patients with chronic ulcerations of the legs caused by chronic venous insufficiency were randomly assigned to receive either conventional therapy alone or conventional therapy plus additional 30 kHz ultrasound treatment. Patients with other conditions that may impair wound healing such as diabetes mellitus or arterial disease were excluded. The ultrasound treatment consisted of 10 minutes of foot bathing with application of 30 kHz ultrasound 100 mW/cm(2) three times a week. Response was evaluated with the use of planimetry of the ulcer area and compared with controls after 3 and 8 weeks. After 3 weeks of treatment (and to a greater extent after 8 weeks of treatment) the ultrasound group showed a markedly better response than the control group. Although the control group showed a mean decrease of 11% in the ulcerated area after 8 weeks, in the ultrasound group the mean ulcerated area decreased by 41% (p < 0.05). There were only mild side effects in some of the patients treated with ultrasound. In conclusion, application of low-frequency ultrasound may be a helpful treatment option in chronic venous leg ulcers.     

Evaluation of vascular and metabolic deficiency in patients with large leg ulcers.

A consecutive series of 50 patients with large leg ulcers (surface area > 100 cm2) were investigated for evidence of arterial, venous and nutritional problems. Arterial insufficiency was found in 34%, venous reflux in 50%. A group of eight patients had no arterial or venous problem but had serious deficiencies of vitamin C and zinc. Arterial bypass was performed successfully in 15 of the 17 patients with arterial disease. All patients had a mesh split-skin graft. The 25 with venous incompetence had compression bandaging; in these patients the ulcer had healed on discharge but 10 had recurrent ulceration within 6 months. The leg ulcers in patients with corrected arterial insufficiency healed significantly more rapidly than those with venous incompetence. The ulcers in those with nutritional deficiency healed promptly after skin grafting and correction of the deficiency. It is important to be aware of arterial insufficiency and nutritional deficiency in patients with leg ulcers, as such deficiencies may contribute to the non-healing of an apparently straightforward leg ulcer.     

True long-term healing and recurrence of venous leg ulcers following SEPS combined with superficial venous surgery: a prospective study.

BACKGROUND: The role of perforator surgery remains unclear in the management of patients with leg ulcers. The aim of this study was to assess long-term healing and recurrence rates of leg ulcers following surgical intervention with combined Subfascial Endoscopic Perforator Surgery (SEPS) and superficial venous surgery. METHOD: Case series with prospective long-term follow-up of 90 consecutive patients operated on with open (CEAP C6) or healed (CEAP C5) venous ulcers in 97 legs. Popliteal vein reflux was present in 21 legs. All 97 legs were treated with SEPS and 87% had additional superficial venous surgery. Patients were follow-up for a median of 77 months (range 60-112 months) with a minimum of 5 years. RESULTS: 87% of all ulcerated legs healed. The three and five year recurrence rates were 8% and 18% respectively among survivors. In a multivariate Cox regression analysis previous vein surgery was the only factor significantly associated with recurrent ulceration (p=.004). CONCLUSION: SEPS combined with superficial venous surgery leads to healing with a low recurrence rate in patients with open and healed venous ulcers. Previous venous surgery was found to be a significant risk factor for ulcer recurrence. This result emphasizes the importance of assiduous technique for varicose vein surgery and suggests a continuing role for perforator surgery in leg ulcer patients.     

Treatment of leg ulcers with split skin grafts: early and late results.

Sixty patients (mean age 73.5 years) with 88 leg ulcers that had not responded to conservative treatment had split skin grafts applied at the Department of Plastic Surgery, Link?ping, Sweden. Of 51 venous leg ulcers 45 (88%) healed after a mean of 15 days (range 5-30); and 13 (62%) of the 21 arterial ulcers healed after a mean of 18 days (range 8-30). Additional skin grafting was done on nine of the venous and on three of the arterial ulcers. Twenty-two (49%) of the healed venous ulcers recurred after a mean of four months while only two (15%) of the healed arterial ulcers recurred after a mean of 10 months. At late follow up after a mean of four years 18 of the patients were dead and 10 had had the leg in question amputated. Of the 34 patients still alive who had not had amputations, 31 were investigated at open ward or interviewed by telephone and 23 patients were examined with colour duplex scan. Seven of these patients had open leg ulcers. At duplex scan six patients had no venous or arterial insufficiency that could cause a leg ulcer. Of 16 patients with venous insufficiency 10 patients had only an inadequate superficial system. The mean cost for treating one leg ulcer by skin grafting is estimated at SEK 89000 (US$11125). We conclude that leg ulcers often heal with skin grafting but that venous ulcers often recur. To reduce the recurrence rate we suggest a better preoperative aetiological evaluation and improved postoperative treatment with a compression bandage.     

The peripheral blood pressure in legs with venous ulcers.

Venous ulcers require effective compression treatment which is, however, contra-indicated in cases of arterial insufficiency. In elderly patients with typical venous ulcers the question arises whether they may have concomitant arterial insufficiency. In early studies is was proved that arterial insufficiency in the lower limbs may be diagnosed as a low systolic blood pressure in the great toe as compared with the systolic arm blood pressure. In the present investigation the systolic blood pressure in the great toe was measured in 48 patients with verified venous ulcers. The toe blood pressure and the pressure difference from arm to toe were studied and compared with the corresponding values in normal subjects. 35 patients had no evidence of arterial insufficiency, but in 13 cases signs of concomitant arterial insufficiency was found. The method of measuring the systolic blood pressure in the toes seems to be a simple and reliable method for estimating the degree of arterial insufficiency even in patients with chronic venous disease.     

Leg ulcers: epidemiology and aetiology

In a regional Health District with a population of 198,900, 357 patients with 424 ulcerated legs were documented, an overall prevalence of 0.18 per cent. The prevalence of ulceration in the 92,100 aged greater than 40 years was 0.38 per cent. Fifty per cent of the lesions had been present for more than one year, and 62 per cent of patients had never attended any hospital. The patients were stratified by history of peripheral arterial disease. A random sample (100 patients, 193 legs) was examined by ultrasound and photoplethysmography to assess the venous and arterial circulation; 38 per cent had evidence of deep vein involvement and 43 per cent had superficial vein incompetence. An ischaemic element was present either in isolation (9 per cent) or combined with venous disease (22 per cent) in a total of 31 per cent, with a mean pressure index of 0.62 (s.d. 0.14). Simple objective methods of assessment together with dedicated community staff with ready access to specialized facilities can enhance the service provided to patients with leg ulcers.     

下肢深静脉瓣膜功能不全的瓣膜外修复成形术

目的研究和评价利用瓣膜外修复成形术治疗下肢深静脉瓣膜功能不全的疗效。方法对下肢深静脉瓣膜功能不全的２６例患者（３７条肢体）施以股静脉瓣膜外修复成形术。其中男１２例,女１４例;年龄１６～６９岁,平均年龄（５０８±１００）岁。所有肢体均施行股浅静脉第一对瓣膜外修复成形术,其中７条肢体加施股浅静脉第二对瓣膜外修复成形术,６条肢体加施股总静脉外瓣膜修复成形术。结果８１１％（３０／３７）的患肢静脉性跛行、酸胀、疼痛等症状消失,１８９％（７／３７）的患肢症状明显改善,所有肢体静脉曲张消失,７／９的肢体溃疡愈合。彩超复查除有４条肢体瓣膜功能不全Ⅰ～Ⅱ度外,其余肢体（８９２％）瓣膜功能恢复正常。结论深静脉外瓣膜修复成形术是治疗下肢深静脉瓣膜功能不全比较理想和有效的方法     

The diagnosis and management of 689 chronic leg ulcers in a single-visit assessment clinic.

OBJECTIVES: accurate diagnosis is essential if patients with chronic leg ulceration are to receive optimal treatment. This prospective study describes the findings of a standardised assessment protocol and the initial management of a consecutive series of patients with chronic leg ulceration presenting to a single-visit leg ulcer assessment clinic. METHODS: between January 1993 and January 1999, a total of 555 patients (220 men and 335 women of median age 73, range 28-95 years) with 689 chronic leg ulcers were assessed. Full clinical assessment, ankle:brachial pressure index and lower limb venous duplex scan were performed according to a standardised protocol and diagnostic and management data were recorded prospectively on a computerised database. RESULTS: venous disease alone was responsible for 496 of 689 (72%) ulcers. Isolated superficial venous reflux (SVR) was identified in 52% of limbs and two-thirds of these had superficial venous surgery. Combined SVR and segmental deep venous reflux (DVR) was present in 13%, and full-length DVR was present in 33% of limbs. Nineteen (4%) limbs had deep venous stenosis or obstruction. Overall, superficial venous surgery was performed in 43% and compression bandages or hosiery alone were applied in 52% of limbs. Mixed arterio-venous ulceration was present in 100 (14.5%) limbs of which 56 had arterial revascularisation, 38 had superficial venous surgery and 23 had compression alone. Fifteen limbs with pure arterial ulceration had angioplasty (n=13) or simple dressings alone (n=2). Ulceration due to lymphoedema (n=17), mixed lymphoedema and venous reflux (n=11) and other causes (n=50) were managed by compression, dressings or skin grafting. CONCLUSIONS: a standardised protocol of clinical and duplex assessment can lead to a diagnosis in 97% of chronic leg ulcers. Duplex is essential to confirm or exclude potentially correctable venous disease and allow tailored surgical intervention for those patients who many benefit.     

Factors influencing ulcer healing in patients with combined arterial and venous insufficiency

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of treatment of patients with combined arterial and venous insufficiency (CAVI), evaluate variables associated with successful ulcer healing, and better define criteria for interventional therapy.Study Design: We retrospectively reviewed the records of patients treated at four institutions from 1995 to 2000 with lower extremity ulcers and CAVI. Arterial disease was defined as an ankle/brachial index less than 0.9, absent pedal pulse, and at least one in-line arterial stenosis > 50% by arteriography. Venous insufficiency was defined as characteristic clinical findings and duplex findings of either reflux or thrombus in the deep or superficial system. Clinical, demographic, and hemodynamic parameters were statistically analyzed with multiple regression analysis and correlated with ulcer healing and limb salvage. RESULTS: Fifty-nine patients with CAVI were treated for nonhealing ulcers that had been present from 1 to 39 months (mean, 6.4 months). All patients had edema. The mean ankle/brachial index was 0.55 (range, 0-0.86). Treatment included elastic compression and leg elevation in all patients and greater saphenous vein stripping in patients with superficial venous reflux. Fifty-two patients underwent arterial bypass grafting, three underwent an endarterectomy, one underwent superficial femoral artery percutaneous transluminal angioplasty, and three underwent primary below-knee amputation. For purposes of analysis, patients were divided into four groups according to the pattern of arterial and venous disease and the success of arterial reconstruction. Group 1 consisted of 22 patients with a patent arterial graft, superficial venous incompetence, and normal deep veins. Group 2 consisted of seven patients with a patent graft, superficial reflux, and deep venous reflux. Group 3 included 22 patients with a patent graft and deep venous thrombosis (DVT), and group 4 included eight patients with an occluded arterial graft. Follow-up ranged from 2 to 47 months (mean, 21.6 months). Forty-nine patients remained alive, and 10 died of unrelated causes. During follow-up, 48 of the 56 treated arteries remained patent and eight occluded. Thirty-four ulcers (58%) healed, 18 ulcers (31%) did not heal, and 7 patients (12%) required below-knee amputation for nonhealed ulcers and uncontrolled infection. No patient with graft occlusion was healed, and 12 ulcers persisted despite successful arterial reconstruction. Twenty-one (78%) of 27 patients undergoing greater saphenous vein stripping were healed, but none of these patients had DVT. The mean interval from bypass graft to healing was 7.9 months. Thirty-two (68%) of 46 patients without prior DVT were healed, whereas only two (15%) of 13 patients with prior DVT were healed, and this variable, in addition to graft patency, was the only factor statistically significant in predicting healing (P <.05). CONCLUSIONS: Ulcers may develop anywhere on the calf or foot in patients with CAVI, and healing requires correction of arterial insufficiency. Patients with prior DVT are unlikely to heal, even with a patent bypass graft. Ulcer healing is a lengthy process and requires aggressive treatment of edema and infection, and successful arterial reconstruction. Patients with a prior DVT are unlikely to benefit from aggressive arterial or venous reconstruction.     

Chronic venous leg ulcers benefit from surgery: long-term results from 173 legs

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this retrospective study was to present 7 years of data from operations of currently active, chronic venous leg ulcers (CEAP: C6), focusing on the short- and long-term effects of healing and recurrence and considering concomitant risk factors. METHODS: Between January 1997 and March 2004, 173 patients (239 legs) with a currently active, chronic venous leg ulcer were surgically treated. The surgical procedures included two main steps: (1) the surgical interruption of reflux in the superficial and perforating veins to reduce venous hypertension in the entire leg and/or the affected area and (2) the surgical procedure involving the ulcer. A total of 123 patients (173 legs) who came to the follow-up were examined. The follow-up period ranged from 3 months to 7 years. The data collection integrated a preoperative examination that included medical history and clinical diagnoses and incorporated measurements such as body mass index, ankle-brachial pressure index, and the neutral position method at the follow-up. The function of the veins was measured with duplex ultrasonography. Finally, the data were analyzed by using various statistical methods, including Kaplan-Meier analysis, Cox regression analysis, and paired t tests. RESULTS: Initially, ulcer healing occurred in 87% of the cases (151 legs). A total of 13% (22 legs) of the venous ulcers never healed, and recurrent venous ulcers occurred in 5% (9 legs). The Kaplan-Meier analyses of ulcer healing showed a healing rate of 85% in 6 months for all legs. The mean time of healing was 1.5 months. Furthermore, the Kaplan-Meier analyses of ulcer recurrence showed a 1.7% rate of recurrence in 6 months for all legs. The 5-year ulcer recurrence rate was 4.6%. The mean time of recurrence was 70.4 months. CONCLUSIONS: On the basis of the results from the 7 years of data from functional surgery of venous leg ulcers and as a result of the outcomes of our study, we recommend surgical treatment of venous leg ulcers at any stage. We therefore conclude that surgery is indicated before an ulcer is intractable to treatment. In general, our findings are based on the understanding and identification of the causes and symptoms of venous ulceration and illustrate that standard surgical methods can be applied for the therapy of venous leg ulcers at any stage.     

Medical management of venous ulcers

Venous disease is the most common cause of chronic leg ulceration and represents an advanced clinical manifestation of venous insufficiency. Due to their frequency and chronicity, venous ulcers have a high socioeconomic impact, with treatment costs accounting for 1% of the health care budget in Western countries. The evaluation of patients with venous ulcers should include a thorough medical history for prior deep venous thrombosis, assessment for an hypercoagulable state, and a physical examination. Use of the CEAP (clinical, etiology, anatomy, pathophysiology) Classification System and the revised Venous Clinical Severity Scoring System is strongly recommended to characterize disease severity and assess response to treatment. This venous condition requires lifestyle modification, with affected individuals performing daily intervals of leg elevation to control edema; use of elastic compression garments; and moderate physical activity, such as walking wearing below-knee elastic stockings. Meticulous skin care, treatment of dermatitis, and prompt treatment of cellulitis are important aspects of medical management. The pharmacology of chronic venous insufficiency and venous ulcers include essentially two medications: pentoxifylline and phlebotropic agents. The micronized purified flavonoid fraction is an effective adjunct to compression therapy in patients with large, chronic ulceration.     

A review of microvascular measurements in wound healing

The microcirculatory evaluation in patients affected by arteriopathic or venous ulcers is usually carried out using laser Doppler flowmetry, transcutaneous oxygen (transcutaneous pressure of oxygen, TcPO(2)), and carbon dioxide (transcutaneous pressure of carbon dioxide, TcPCO(2)) measurements and capillaroscopy. These techniques provide significant pathophysiologic and prognostic information. TcPO(2) and TcPCO(2) diagnose and classify the extent of arterial disease in the leg ulcers caused by arterial disease; the prognostic value is recognized, though doubts about its prognostic potential exist in the case of leg ulcer. Laser Doppler flowmetry is able to identify the first functional impairment in the early stages of the arterial disease and in the complicated venous insufficiency. Capillaroscopy gives us morphological and quantitative parameters of the capillary bed that is damaged in arteriopathic and venous ulcers; nevertheless, it does not provide us with definite prognostic indexes. Combining the 3 methods may contribute to yield objective measures in the clinical management of lower extremity ulcers.     

Venous disease: investigation and treatment,fact or fiction?

This review looks at some clinical and experimental methods and treatments used in venous disease, and attempts to dispel some myths which have been associated with it. Over the last century numerous techniques have been introduced to aid the understanding of the physiology of normal legs and the pathophysiology of those with venous disease. Tourniquet testing along with clinical examination remains the only method of venous assessment in most hospitals. Venous ulceration in the past has been associated with deep vein incompetence, but the newer, non-invasive techniques of Doppler ultrasound and duplex examination are now identifying patients with leg ulceration who have superficial venous insufficiency and therefore a surgically correctable condition. Perforating veins and their possible role in the aetiology of venous ulceration along with invasive and non-invasive methods for their detection is reviewed. Some of the conservative compression treatments and dressings available for the treatment of venous ulceration are discussed. It is concluded that adherence to sound surgical principles remains the mainstay of the successful management of patients with venous disease.     

Healing rates and cost efficacy of outpatient compression treatment for leg ulcers associated with venous insufficiency.

OBJECTIVE: Although newer techniques to promote the healing of leg ulcers associated with chronic venous insufficiency are promising, improved healing rates and cost effectiveness are unproven. We prospectively followed a series of patients who underwent treatment with outpatient compression for venous stasis ulcers without adjuvant techniques to determine healing rates and costs of treatment. METHODS: Two hundred fifty-two patients with clinical or duplex scan evidence of chronic venous insufficiency and active leg ulcers underwent treatment with ambulatory compression techniques. The patients were prospectively followed with wound measurements at 1-week to 2-week intervals, and the factors that were associated with delayed healing were determined. RESULTS: Of all the ulcers, 57% were healed at 10 weeks of treatment and 75% were healed at 16 weeks. Ultimately, 96% of the ulcers healed, and only 1 major amputation was necessitated (0.4%). Initial ulcer size and moderate arterial insufficiency (ankle brachial index, 0.5 to 0.8; n = 34) were factors that were independently associated with delayed healing (P <.01). Patient age, ulcer duration before treatment, and morbid obesity did not significantly affect healing times. The cost of 10 weeks of outpatient treatment with compression techniques ranged from $1444 to $2711. CONCLUSION: The treatment of venous stasis ulcers with compression techniques results in reliable, cost-effective healing in most patients. Current adjuvant techniques may prove to be useful but are likely to be cost effective only in a minority of cases, particularly in patients with large initial ulcer size or arterial insufficiency.