Abstract
Elastic compressions are standard treatment for leg ulcers of venous etiology. The
effect of compressions on ulcers of mixed (arterial or venous) etiology, however,
has rarely been studied. The objective of this study was to evaluate the variation
in transcutaneous oxygen pressure (TcPO2) in patients with ulcers of mixed arterial
or venous etiology treated with 1 month of compression. This prospective cohort study
was conducted at a university hospital in France. Patient eligibility was for those
attending a consultation of a work-up of a leg ulcer of mixed arterial-venous etiology
lasting at least 4 to 6 weeks. Compressions were prescribed according to the hemodynamic
status and were evaluated by the ankle-brachial index and toe-brachial index using
a decision-making algorithm based on French national guidelines. Quality of life was
assessed using the Short-Form 36-Item (SF-36) questionnaire. In total, 32 patients
were included between September 30, 2018 and May 31, 2019. A difference was observed
between TcPO2 before compression (49.3 ± 13.01 mm Hg) and after 1 month (51.2 ± 15.05 mm
Hg), average change 1.9 ± 2.04 mm Hg (p = 0.025). The average ulcer size prior to compression was 49 ± 102 cm2 versus 37 ± 94 cm2 after 1 month of effective compression, corresponding to a reduction of 12 ± 8 cm2 (p < 0.001). There was a reduction in the bodily pain dimension of the SF-36. Compressions
adapted to the hemodynamic status led to an increase in TcPO2, a reduction in wound
size, and an improvement to bodily pain in patients with leg ulcers of mixed arterial-venous
etiology.
Keywords
peripheral artery disease - wound care - mixed-etiology leg ulcers - compression -
TcPO2
