Factors that impact leg ulcer healing
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.29352/mill0217e.38852Keywords:
leg ulcer; risk factors; clinical assessment; healingAbstract
Introduction: It is important to demystify the concept that Leg Ulcers (LU´s) do not heal, as there is a wide variation in healing times depending on the literature consulted. A holistic assessment of the patient is essential, identifying the factors that can enable early intervention and thus improve results.
Objetive: To identify the factors that have an impact on LU healing.
Methods: A quantitative, descriptive-correlational study, with data collected from a non-randomized convenience sample in two complex wound care units in the central region of Portugal, between January 2021 and December 2022.
Results: The median healing time for LU is 67 days. The variables with the greatest impact on healing were: mixed ulcer (b=0.36; B=69.23 days); length between 10 and 15 cm (b=0.26; B=66.4 days); lower location (b=0.17; B=28.78 days), sign of lipodermatosclerosis or white atrophy (b=0.17; B=24.47 days); and use of antibiotics in previous months (b=0.13; B=25.29 days).
Conclusion: Ulcers become chronic due to the presence of inhibitory factors that impair healing. Identifying these barriers should be the starting point for care planning. There were 7 clinical variables identified as having an impact on healing (mixed ulcer, ulcer length, lower location, signs of lipodermatosclerosis or white atrophy and antibiotic use) which should be considered when planning clinical intervention and by academia in future research.
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