MANAGING YOUR SICKLE CELL DISEASE

LEG ULCERS

What are leg ulcers?

Adults with sickle cell disease are more likely to get leg ulcers than adults without sickle cell disease.
When red blood cells sickle and block blood flow to an area of injured skin, it takes longer to heal. These injuries can turn into an ulcer or an open sore.
Ulcers may also happen without a known injury. The most common places for ulcers are on the outside of the ankles. They tend to last for long periods of time and can be painful.

Treatment

The usual treatment done by your provider for leg ulcers include:

Removing any dead skin around the ulcer
Putting a wet dressing on the ulcer and letting it dry
Applying medicine to the skin.

Treating an infection

If you have an infection, you will get antibiotics . Some antibiotics are given by mouth or through a vein. Other antibiotics are put directly on the skin.

Hydroxyurea may slow the healing of leg ulcers. Your provider may recommend stopping it for a period of time.

Leg ulcer checklist

For you and your health care provider

Reason why you have an ulcer:

🄯 Talk with your provider about why you have a leg ulcer. One reason could be that you have less blood going to that part of your leg.

Infection:

🄯 If the ulcer gets worse or does not get better with treatment, talk with your provider about testing for an infection in the ulcer and in the bone (osteomyelitis).

🄯 If you have an infection, discuss with your provider about getting antibiotics. These antibiotics may be on the skin, by mouth, or through a vein.

Wound care specialist:

🄯 If your ulcers are slow to heal or keep coming back, talk with your provider about seeing a wound care specialist.

Prevention:

🄯 Talk with your provider about ways to prevent other sickle cell complications if you stop hydroxyurea to let your leg ulcers heal.

SECTION OVERVIEW

The most common place for leg ulcers to happen is on the outside of the ankles.

Ulcers that are slow to heal may be due to infection, hydroxyurea, or both.