What Researchers Did
Researchers surveyed members of the American Venous Forum to understand how they use additional treatments for venous leg ulcers.
What They Found
An online survey of 667 practitioners had an 18.6% response rate. Most respondents (49.5%) were vascular specialists, and 85.5% were from the USA. All used compression therapy, with multilayer compression being the most common (58.8%), and over 90% started other treatments, including hyperbaric oxygen, if ulcers didn't heal with compression, usually within three months (65%).
What This Means for Canadian Patients
This study shows that compression therapy is the main treatment for venous leg ulcers. If compression doesn't work, Canadian patients might expect their doctors to consider other options, like hyperbaric oxygen therapy, often within three months. This provides a general idea of treatment progression for non-healing ulcers.
Canadian Relevance
No direct Canadian connection identified.
Study Limitations
The low response rate of 18.6% and the focus on members of a specific professional forum limit the general applicability of these findings.