Ankle joint mobility as a predictor of treatment prognosis in patients with chronic venous insufficiency with venous ulcers

Abstract

The present study arose from the need to improve treatment of patients with chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) who present with venous ulcers. A total of 40 lower limbs were assessed from 20 patients with healed venous ulcers (C5) or active venous ulcers (C6) who had undergone varicose vein surgery. The relationship between the range of motion of the ankle joint and presence of C5 or C6 venous ulcer was analyzed. For this purpose, normal goniometry findings for this joint were used as a predictor of venous ulcer healing, defined as the outcome. Thus, when identifying reduced ankle joint movement or immobility in these patients, new treatment options could be offered in order to increase joint mobility and prevent or delay CVI complications.

Keywords:
arthrometry, articular; venous insufficiency; varicose ulcer