The role of a caregiver of a patient with venous leg ulcers in recurrence prevention: a case study.

Objective: Venous leg ulcer (VLU) is a common complication which significantly reduces the patient's quality of life. Despite many effective treatment methods, such as compression therapy, which allow the wound to heal in a short time, it is important to maintain the long-term effects of the therapy. We present the case of a 67-year-old male patient with a trophic ulcer of his left leg. Method: The patient was treated with inelastic multicomponent compression bandages applied every day under Kikuhime pressure-measuring device (HPM-KH-01; TT Meditrade, Denmark) control and advised to wear a compression stocking. Results: The patient's wound closed within eight weeks. After five months, the patient returned to our clinic with a one-month-old wound due to non-adherence with medical recommendations. Conclusion: Key roles in recurrence prevention seem to be played not only by the patient's motivation and perseverance, but, more importantly, by the approach of the therapist. Health professionals should focus not only on one-time closure of the patient's wound, but on cooperation with the patient's family and caregivers, and instructing them on how to look after the patient on a daily basis, including with help to put on compression garments and with motivation to move and exercise. In many cases, with unaccompanied patients, rapid VLU recurrence is observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]