Efficiency of therapeutic ultrasound, low-level laser and compression therapy for healing of venous leg ulcers

Abstract EN

Aim To evaluate the efficiency of therapeutic Ultrasound, low level laser and compression therapy for healing of venous Leg ulcers and Compare the effect of modalities on the ulcers.

Subjects and methods Three groups were included in the study.

Group I : 20 patients with leg ulcers treated with low level laser therapy.

Group II : 20 patients with leg ulcers treated with ultrasound therapy.

Group III : 20 patients with leg ulcers treated by compression therapy (four layer bandage) were used in this study.

All patients were subjected to detailed history, clinical evaluation in addition to X-ray of legs and feet, and Doppler ultrasound of both legs.

The main variables for follow up were the measurement of the area of the lesions under aseptic conditions at 0, 1, 2, 3 months and qualitative clinical evaluation of the ulcers by physician and by the patient.

The results from group I, group II and group III were obtained and then compared with each others.

Results According to the size of the ulcer, some ulcers heal within 1 month which is (15.6 %) in group I, (10 %) in group II, and (28.5 %) in group III.

Some ulcers heal within 2 months which is (28 %) in group I, (23.3 %) in group II and (37 %) in group III.

The remaining ulcers heal within 3 months or more which are (56 %) in group I, (66.6 %) in group II and (34.2 %) in group III.

Thus the percentage of healing denoting that compression bandage technique used in group III is the most efficient in healing of chronic venous leg ulcer followed by laser therapy and lastly US therapy (P = 0.04 at the end of the first month and P = 0.03 at the end of the third month).

Conclusion Compression therapy is the most efficient treatment of venous leg ulcers.

Low level laser therapy and Ultrasound therapy are useful methods as a conservative treatment of venous leg ulcers and can be used in ulcers of small size.