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Why do ulcers occur?
  Why do ulcers occur?
  The Leg Vein Pump
  Deep Vein Failure
  Superficial Vein Failure
  Old Understanding
  New Understanding
  What this means
The causes of leg ulcers can be put down to 3 main categories

1] Venous Causes - about 80% of leg ulcers
2] Arterial Causes - about 15% of leg ulcers
3] Other Causes - about 5% of leg ulcers

This website is going to concentrate on Venous Causes as this is what affects most people. However, it should be noted that Specialist Vascular Surgeons always check for arterial causes and other causes before treating Venous Leg Ulcers. Most arterial leg ulcers can be cured by bypass surgery or angioplasty. Ulcers in the "other causes" need to be treated depending on the specific cause.

Venous Leg Ulcers

To understand how venous leg ulcers occur, you have to have some understanding of the structures in the leg (see animation on the left) and also how the Vein Pump in the leg works. This is explained in full on a sister site - click here if you wish to see an explanation of the vein pump.

Before about 1985, the world of venous disease was viewed very simply. The venous system of the leg was split into 2 - the DEEP system and the SUPERFICIAL system. Doctors and Nurses used to believe that vein pump failure in each produced different problems as explained in the next page.