Updated leg ulcer pathway: improving healing times and reducing costs

Regardless of the amount of literature and evidence on leg ulcer management, there are still significant variations in treatment. Implementing a standardised leg ulcer pathway to ensure patients are appropriately and timely assessed could help reduce nursing time and overall costs, while improving healing outcomes and patients' quality of life. Such a pathway was introduced in Lincolnshire and Leicestershire, UK, to treat venous leg ulcers (VLUs). The results showed improved healing times, reduced costs and fewer nurse visits, among other findings.

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Velcro compression wraps as an alternative form of compression therapy for venous leg ulcers: a review

British Journal of Community Nursing ◽

10.12968/bjcn.2021.26.sup6.s10 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 26 (Sup6) ◽

pp. S10-S20

Author(s):

Amy Cox ◽

Chrissie Bousfield

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Compression Therapy ◽

Alternative Form ◽

Leg Ulcers ◽

Nursing Time ◽

Similar Treatment ◽

Venous Leg Ulcers ◽

Compression Bandages ◽

The Impact

The first-line treatment for venous leg ulcers (VLUs) is compression therapy, most commonly, with compression bandages. A similar treatment measure is used for lymphoedema in the form of Velcro compression wraps (VCWs). However, the use of VCWs for VLUs is less evident, and a direct comparison to compression bandaging is not evident. This review explores the evidence to support the use of VCWs for the treatment of VLUs in order to raise awareness of alternative forms of compression therapy. Nine primary research studies were analysed, from which four key themes emerged: quality of life, cost of treatment, ulcer healing time and pressure maintenance. The findings suggest that VCWs decrease material costs by at least 50%, and further savings may be realised by reducing the costs associated with nursing time. The benefits of promoting self-care, maintaining compression, and eliciting greater healing rates are clearly evident, and the impact on quality of life is substantiated.

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Recurrent venous leg ulcers: management in general practice

Practice Nursing ◽

10.12968/pnur.2021.32.6.220 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 32 (6) ◽

pp. 220-225

Author(s):

Annemarie Brown

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

General Practice ◽

Financial Burden ◽

Self Care ◽

Leg Ulcers ◽

Recurrence Rates ◽

Practice Nurses ◽

Venous Leg Ulcers ◽

Primary Prevention Strategy

Venous leg ulcers commonly recur. Annemarie Brown highlights some self-care strategies that patients can use to reduce their risk Chronic venous leg ulcers are commonly seen in general practice and although healing rates for leg ulcers have improved, recurrence rates are high with around 60–70% reported to recur after healing. The primary prevention strategy is the life-long wearing of compression hosiery; however, compliance is low for several reasons including lack of understanding of the need to wear compression hosiery and difficulties applying and removing it. Self-care strategies such as physical exercise and mobility, leg elevation and appropriate skin care, can help to prevent recurrence of venous leg ulcers. Practice nurses are ideally placed to provide this advice, which can help improve patient's quality of life while reducing the financial burden of treating open ulceration for the NHS.

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