Assessment of vascular ulcers of the lower limbs through the Wound Trend Scale: the experience of the Local Health Authority of Piacenza

Vascular ulcers of the lower limbs, be they venous, arterial or mixed, represent a widespread pathology affecting from 0,3 to 5% of the population, consuming between 1 and 3% of the National health fund. The care of people with this type of injury must use tools that are suitable for assessing the characteristics of ulcers so that it can trigger the most appropriate care treatment. The present study intends to verify the appropriateness in the description of the lesions and the predictive ability on the evolution of the same ones of the Wound Trend Scale (WTS). The research was conducted at the vascular surgery ward and in the volnology service of the Health Authority of Piacenza; involved 11 patients with 12 lower limb vascular ulcers. The convenience sample used was mostly composed of female patients (73%) with a mean age of 79,2 years (DS±0.7). A greater frequency of venous ulcers (58%) has emerged, mainly located in the perimalleolar site (50%). The WTS consists of 14 items, in addition to informing the characteristics of the lesions, premise to indicate the evolution of the same through three measurements with intervals established based on the severity of the wound. The study found that 83% of ulcers showed an evolution towards healing, while the remaining 17% was characterized by a worsening of the lesion. The WTS stands as a valid tool for the description of ulcers with predictive characteristics with respect to their evolution but needs more in-depth analysis to test their appropriateness.