Table 1 Characteristics of patients

1

M/77y

18 month-old superficial traumatic ulcer on medial aspect of middle third of leg with purulent discharge. Ulcer was 13 cm2 in size with an infected soft tissue base. It was severely tender. Adjacent tissue was normal.

2

M/78y

13 month-old deep spontaneous ulcer above medial malleolus. Ulcer had smooth regular sloppy edges, a subcutaneous tissue base and covered an area of 14 cm2. It was warm and moderately tender. Surrounding tissue was normal. Probable aetiology: ischaemia

3

F/75y

• Hypertension

14 month-old superficial traumatic ulcer on medial aspect of middle third of leg. Ulcer had smooth irregular flat edges and covered an area of 21 cm2. It was severely tender and its base consisted of subcutaneous tissue. Surrounding tissue was normal.

4

M/86y

12 month-old superficial traumatic ulcer just above medial malleolus with purulent discharge. Ulcer was 9.0 cm2 in size, mildly tender and had infected soft tissue base with maggots. Surrounding tissue was normal.

5

F/76y

9 month-old deep traumatic ulcer on anterior aspect of middle third of leg with purulent discharge. It covered an area of 23 cm2 with an infected subcutaneous tissue base and was severely tender. Surrounding tissue up to knee level was erythematous, oedematous and severely tender (suggestive of cellulitis)

6

F/77y

25 month-old superficial traumatic ulcer on anterior aspect of middle third of leg. It covered an area of 15 cm2 with a subcutaneous tissue base. It was severely tender. Surrounding tissue was normal.

7

F/70y

41 month-old deep spontaneous ulcer just above lateral malleolus. It covered an area of 20 cm2 with a subcutaneous tissue base. It was severely tender. Surrounding tissue was normal.

8

M/73y

30 month-old superficial traumatic ulcer involving posterior third of distal leg. It was 27 cm2 in size and its base consisted of subcutaneous tissue. It was severely tender. Surrounding tissue was normal.

9

M/81y

39 month-old deep spontaneous ulcer involving almost the entire circumference of the distal third of the leg. It was 38.1 cm2 in size with smooth sloppy (regular) edges and a subcutaneous tissue base. It was cold and severely tender. Surrounding tissue was normal but for faint dorsalis pedis and posterior tibial pulses. Probable aetiology: ischaemia

10

M/83y

18 month-old superficial traumatic ulcer above medial malleolus. Ulcer was 10.0 cm2 in size with a subcutaneous tissue base. It was moderately tender. Surrounding tissue was normal.

11

M/88y

15 month-old superficial spontaneous ulcer on dorsum of foot with serous discharge. Ulcer was 9.3 cm2 in size and moderately tender. Its base was comprised of subcutaneous tissue. Surrounding tissue up to mid leg was erythematous, oedematous and severely tender (suggesting cellulitis). Probable aetiology: ischaemia.

12

M/75y

• Chronic smoking

• Diabetes

7 month-old superficial traumatic ulcer just above lateral malleolus with purulent discharge. Ulcer was 11.4 cm2 in size and severely tender. Its base consisted of infected subcutaneous tissue and surrounding tissue was normal.

13

F/69y

• Hypertension

12 month-old superficial traumatic ulcer on posterolateral aspect of distal third of leg. Ulcer measured 18.8 cm2 in size. Its base comprised of subcutaneous tissue. Ulcer was moderately tender. Surrounding tissue was normal.