Venous leg ulcers (VLUs) affect 3% of all people aged 65 years and older. After healing, the recurrence rate can be as high as 69%, making the treatment of VLUs costly to the healthcare system. In Australia alone, VLUs cost the healthcare system $400-500 million per year. VLUs are problematic for patients beyond the physical ulceration of their feet because they create social and psychological challenges. Therefore, treating a VLU entails not only closing the ulcer with full epithelialization, but also taking the correct measures to prevent its recurrence.
