Venous Ulcers

Dr. Malvehy offers treatment for venous ulcers and venous insufficiency. Wounds are the result of chronic insufficiency and can occur even if the person has never had visible varicose veins. Poor circulation in the lower leg leads to chronic inflammation of the skin, breaking down the skin and making the associated wound difficult to heal and may recur.

Venous ulcers or leg ulcers are typically found in the lower leg or ankle, also called the gaiter area. Over 80% of wounds of the lower leg and ankles are due primarily to vein disease. These venous ulcers usually follow a period of skin discoloration (venous insufficiency), can be quite painful, and are difficult to close without the correct vascular treatment. Many people suffer for years, being treated with compression stockings and local wound care (bandages, creams, and wraps), not realizing there is an underlying circulation problem which can be addressed. Without treating the underlying vascular disease these ulcers rarely heal and, even if they do, they recur regularly.

Dr. Malvehy identifies the underlying cause of the ulcer on the first visit using ultrasound. He creates a customized venous ulcer treatment plan focused on that issue. For most patients, a single treatment visit combining multiple different techniques including EndoVenous Laser Ablation and ultrasound guided foam chemical ablation.

By fixing the underlying circulation issue, Dr. Malvehy is able to speed healing of venous ulcers and prevent their recurrence. 

Treating underlying venous insufficiency reduces ulcer recurrence rates from 90% to 2%.