Medical Compression for Leg Chronic Wound in Patients With Arterial Peripheral Disease: A Practice Survey

The leg chronic wound is a frequent and recurrent chronic disease of the lower limb, causing an impairment in the quality of life of patients and at a significant cost to society. Medical compression is essential for the healing of a leg ulcer.

However, the leg chronic wound is often associated with peripheral arterial disease (PAD), the prevalence of which in this population varies depending on the detection method used and the stage of arterial disease. The association of a chronic wound of the lower limb with PAD can occur two problems: the indication for compression and the validity of vascular explorations to detect arterial involvement and assess its severity.

The first issue concerns the use of compression in the presence of an PAD, which is the subject of controversy. Indeed, compression can improve tissue perfusion by reducing edema, but it carries a potential risk of ischemia and worsening of the ulcer, which probably increases with the progressive stage of PAD. Thus, medical compression is sometimes contraindicated, but the PAD severity threshold setting the contraindication varies from one recommendation to another.

The second problem concerns the validity of the detection and quantification methods of the PAD. Arterial involvement is probably underestimated by the clinic alone, in these patients whose mobility is sometimes reduced or who have trophic disorders of mixed origin, and the use of additional examinations (Doppler ultrasound, ankle or toe systolic pressures, TcPO2 or other vascular explorations) is necessary. There is no specific studies in the context of chronic wound of the lower limb (leg ulcer and foot ulcer) nevertheless hemodynamic measurements remain important to guide the indication (and the contraindication) for compression and the choice of the type of compression, suitable for each patient.

It seems important to evaluate this management charge by a practice investigation, in real life. Thus, the aim of this study is an observation of the real-life survey type of vasculars specialists in France caring for patients with a chronic wound of the lower limb (leg ulcer and foot ulcer) for which compression treatment would be indicated and arterial disease of the lower limbs. This is a prospective cohort with inclusion of consecutive or pseudo-consecutive patients by vascular specialist. Patients will be followed to ulcer development and tolerance of compression during 6 months.