Management of chronic and problem lower extremity wounds.

With simple, inexpensive therapy, virtually all venous ulcers heal without the need for hospitalization, skin grafting, growth factors, hyperbaric oxygen, or debilitating bed rest. Although the future promises to yield a greater understanding about the nature of these wounds and ways to treat them, one can benefit the vast majority of patients with available technology. Few therapeutic experiences are as gratifying as healing a patient's debilitating chronic wound.