Background:
Chronic ulcers are one of the most difficult diseases to treat with socioeconomic impact, due to pain, recurrence & morbidity. Compression therapy with surgical & endovascular procedure is often required for management. Venous hypertension leads to oedema followed by micro lymphangiopathy & dermato-lymphangio-adenitis (DLA), which is attributed to recurrence of symptoms & eventually ulcers. Role of Injection (Inj) Benzathine Penicillin has been well established in treating lymphangitis. However, its role in venous ulcers hasn’t been studied before.
Objective:
Reduction in ulcer size, recurrence rate, pain score & improvement in quality of life(QOL) in patients receiving standard care (SoC) with & without concomitant treatment with Inj. Benzathine penicillin 1.2 mega units intramuscular (IM) every 3 weekly for 6 months.
Design and Methods:
Present randomised, two-arm superiority trial was conducted among patients aged 18-70 years with pregnancy, Acute DVT, Peripheral Arterial Disease, T2DM, penicillin allergy, etc. excluded. Participants were randomly recruited into two arms. SoC included moist occlusive dressing, flavonoids, Short stretch bandages/ Stockings. SoC also included interventional treatment including Endovenous Laser Ablation/ Sclerotherapy/Sub-fascial Endoscopic Perforator Surgery/ Stripping & ligation, etc. Patients were followed up weekly for 1 month, followed by monthly for 6 months.