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Diseases & Conditions

Stop leg wounds that don't heal

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Venous leg ulcers—open skin wounds that don’t go away—usually occur on the inner side of the leg between the ankle and mid-calf. They are the final stage in the progression of venous disease. Treatment involves compressing the swelling out of the leg using either bandages or compression stockings with dressings on top of the broken skin. Ultimately the underlying venous disease must be treated to prevent the ulcers from recurring. This is done in the doctor’s office, using a catheter procedure to collapse the faulty vein from the inside. Wearing compression stockings may also be an option.

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