Chronic Venous Ulcers: Compression therapy treating the underlying cause - a case study

Abstract

Chronic venous leg ulcers are often associated with an emotional battlefield, not only for the patient, but also for the healthcare practitioner. Various psychosocial issues affect concordance and we may see this manifest as signs of clinical depression, anxiety, social isolation, lay beliefs and also professional/patient conflict. Practitioners should therefore be sensitive to the needs of these patients, even though they themselves may feel impotent and anxious and that they are failing as professionals.