Evaluation of pain among patients with leg ulcers

Aim: The aim of the study was to assess causes and consequences of pain presented among patients with chronic leg ulcer. Material and methods: The study was conducted in 2006 among patients with chronic leg ulcers hospitalized in the Chair and Clinic of Geriatrics, Chair and Clinic of Dermatology and the Emergency Medicine Clinic in Bydgoszcz. Evaluation of pain associated with wounds was performed. As a measurement tool the Pain Evaluation Form was used. For pain intensity evaluation a special numeric scale was used with numbers from 0 (no pain) to 10 (excruciating pain). Results: Almost all patients had pain symptoms associated with wound (96.7% of patients). Numeric values describing constant were significantly lower than values describing periodic pain (4.13 vs. 6.5). A correlation between area and localization of wound and pain level was found (p<0.05). It was also found that pain influences physical activity of patients and greatly restricts their professional activity (p<0.001). Conclusions: Pain associated with ulcer was presented among all patients independently etiology and primary cause of ulcer. Pain restricted physical, functional and psychosocial activity. Incidence of functional restrictions increased with the level of pain.