Venous leg ulcers are the most common type of leg ulcer — and one of the most treatable, when caught early. Here's what you need to know.
Venous leg ulcers account for approximately 70% of all leg ulcers and affect an estimated 1% of the adult population — rising to 3–5% in adults over 65. Despite being the most common type of leg ulcer, they are frequently undertreated, mismanaged, or simply ignored until they become chronic, painful, and difficult to heal.
The evidence is clear: early, appropriate treatment dramatically improves healing rates and prevents recurrence. At ASG Foot & Ankle Specialists, we specialize in venous leg ulcer management and have helped hundreds of patients heal wounds that had been present for months or years.
A venous leg ulcer is an open wound on the lower leg caused by chronic venous insufficiency (CVI). In CVI, the one-way valves in the leg veins are damaged — allowing blood to flow backward and pool in the lower legs. This increases venous pressure, causes swelling, and eventually leads to skin breakdown and ulceration.
Research consistently shows that venous ulcers treated early — within the first few weeks of onset — heal significantly faster than those that have been present for months. A venous ulcer present for less than 6 months has a healing rate of approximately 70–80% with proper compression therapy. An ulcer present for more than 12 months has a healing rate of less than 50%.
Every week of delay allows the wound to become more chronic — the wound edges become fibrotic, the wound bed fills with non-viable tissue, and the surrounding skin becomes increasingly damaged. Early treatment prevents this progression.
Ulcers treated within weeks heal in months. Ulcers treated after years may never fully heal.
Early treatment prevents the extensive fibrosis and skin damage that makes late-stage ulcers so difficult to manage.
Early treatment combined with ongoing compression therapy dramatically reduces the 70% recurrence rate of venous ulcers.
Compression is the single most important treatment for venous leg ulcers. It counteracts the elevated venous pressure that causes the ulcer. Without compression, venous ulcers rarely heal regardless of wound dressing quality.
Removing slough (yellow dead tissue) from the wound bed is essential. Slough prevents granulation tissue from forming and harbors bacteria. Regular debridement — typically every 1–2 weeks — keeps the wound bed clean and promotes healing.
The right dressing maintains a moist wound environment, manages drainage, and protects surrounding skin. For venous ulcers with heavy drainage, absorbent dressings are essential.
Wound care alone is not enough — the underlying venous disease must be addressed to prevent recurrence. Vascular assessment and treatment of incompetent veins significantly improves healing and reduces recurrence.
Learn why venous ulcers recur and how to break the cycle for good.
Why Wounds Reopen →Older adults need specialized wound care. Learn about our senior-focused approach.
Leg Ulcers in Seniors →Venous leg ulcers are caused by chronic venous insufficiency — a condition where the valves in the leg veins are damaged or weakened, causing blood to pool in the lower legs. The increased pressure causes fluid to leak into surrounding tissue, leading to skin breakdown and ulceration. Risk factors include previous DVT (blood clots), varicose veins, obesity, prolonged standing, and family history.
With proper treatment including compression therapy, venous leg ulcers typically heal in 3–6 months. However, without adequate compression, they can persist for years. Early treatment significantly improves healing time. Ulcers that have been present for more than 6 months, are larger than 10cm, or occur in patients with arterial disease take longer to heal and require specialist care.
Yes — compression therapy is the cornerstone of venous leg ulcer treatment and is essential for healing. Compression reduces venous pressure, decreases swelling, improves circulation, and creates the conditions needed for wound healing. Without compression, venous ulcers rarely heal regardless of how good the wound dressing is. Multi-layer compression bandaging or compression stockings are used depending on the stage of treatment.
The sooner you treat a venous leg ulcer, the faster it heals. Our board-certified podiatrists provide comprehensive venous ulcer care at three South Chicago suburbs locations. Call today — same-week appointments often available.