Publication:

Outcome of combined surgery with compression therapy for management of venous leg ulcer

Background Venous leg ulcers (VLUs) are late indicators of chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) and venous hypertension. Compression therapy (CT) with multilayer bandage is the first line of treatment modality of ulcer management. But CT has a slow ulcer healing rate and high chance of recurrence. The present study was conducted to identify the outcome of combined surgery with compression therapy to manage VLU.

Methods In this prospective study, 60 patients were included who presented to the department of cardiovascular surgery of Dhaka Medical College and Hospital between January 2021 to December 2023. The patients were divided into two groups. Group A included the patients who underwent surgery combined with compression therapy while Group B patients received only compression therapy (CT). Ulcer healing time, recurrence rate and Venous Clinical Scoring System (VCSS) were analysed to determine the outcome.

Results There was no significant difference in the demographic variables between two groups. 30 limb ulcers healed in the combined treatment group with a median healing time of 1.6 months (95% CI, 1.42–1.82), while 24 limb ulcers healed in the CT alone group with a median healing time of 2.15 months (95% CI, 1.92–2.45). The ulcer healing time was shorter in the combined treatment group than in the CT alone group (HR for ulcer healing 1.98, 95% CI, 1.474–2.309, p<0.05). Recurrence rate was higher in CT group (16.66% vs 53.33%). Besides VCSS was lower in Combined group that CT group after 1month, 6 month and 12 month of follow-up which was statistically significant. (p<0.05)

Conclusions The present study has demonstrated combined treatments can shorten the ulcer healing time and reduce the ulcer recurrence rate compared with CT alone for treating VLU. Further randomized large scale multicenter study is recommended to provide a better management to the patients.