It has been reported that some patients have been misdiagnosed with Arterial Ulcers, when in fact the correct diagnosis in their specific case was Venous Leg Ulcer.
Venous leg ulcer is a sore that takes more than two weeks and up to years to heal that usually develop on the inside of the leg just above the ankle. They occur when there’s a break in the skin and the patient’s veins are struggling to function correctly. There is backflow of blood in the veins causing increased blood pressure in the limb making it more difficult for the skin to heal. Symptoms include a rash or dry skin, brownish discolouration, and a foul smelling fluid oozing from the sore. Venus and arterial ulcers present almost identically and can be easily misdiagnosed as the other. While they are very similar they require different treatment in order to heal.