Digital Ulcers (DEs), are painful open sores on the fingers and toes and are due to limited perfusion of blood vessels in patients with Scleroderma. In particular, ulcers are caused by narrowing of the arteries, resulting in reduced blood supply to the fingers, causing pain and difficult to heal leaving deep scars. DEs may be present on the rails or fingertips, on the extensor surfaces of the joints, and depending on the underlying calcification. The etiology of ulcers is multifactorial. Raynaud's ischemia, sclerosis, dry skin, calcification and local trauma can all contribute to the onset of Digital Ulcers. Spontaneous fissures or ruptures can also develop into ulcers in patients with scleroderma and severe Raynaud's disease. Whatever the reason for their appearance, DEs negatively affect the quality of life of patients as they complicate even simple daily activities, while they can lead to serious complications such as osteomyelitis or other serious soft tissue infections, up to amputation. Over the last decade, in several randomized clinical trials, DEs have been studied in detail, which are defined or classified differently in each case. The clinical treatment of patients with DE would be facilitated by the availability of specific criteria for the classification of DE. Internationally, the classification of pressure ulcers is usually followed, but this classification is not sufficient for all types of DE observed in Scleroderma. The lack of a clear classification of DEs prompted researchers to evaluate the frequency and morphology of lesions, their characteristics, their physical course, and their healing time in groups of patients with Scleroderma. In a recent study, three categories of classification of digital ulcers based on the patient's clinical picture were proposed by the UK Scleroderma Study Group (UKSSG).
Age range
18 Years – 90 Years
Sex
ALL
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Digital Ulcers
Timeframe: 0-18 months