Therapeutic Effect of a Traditional Chinese Medicine on the Treatment of Painful Leg Ulcer

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic effect of a traditional Chinese medicine on the treatment of painful leg ulcer. Twelve cases of painful leg ulcer were recruited and their characteristics (etiology, size, Visual Analog Scale score, and duration) were recorded. Then, an herbal medicine–oriented treatment protocol combining Zhi Tong Sheng Ji powder (ZTSJ) and SJXP (Sheng Ji Xiang Pi plaster) was applied to these patients. The results suggested that this therapeutic protocol contributed to pain relief and promoted wound healing simultaneously. Specifically, 2 days after applying ZTSJ on wounds, the intensity of pain reduced substantially, and the difference between pre- and post-treatment Visual Analog Scale scores (46 mm vs 23 mm, P < .001) was statistically significant. Epithelialization varied according to ulcer depth. If the wound was deep to the fascia, islands of epithelia did not form within wounds, but rather formed at the edge of wounds, generating island of epithelial cells (IECs) or newly formed epithelial tissue. If the wound was superficial and the dermis remained, scattered IECs appeared within ulcers and merged eventually. Furthermore, as wound pain decreased, IECs appeared, expanded, and merged, or epithelial proliferation and migration occurred in wound margin, eventually healing wounds. No infection spread, topical rashes, itching, or other allergies occurred in these 12 cases, and the time for recovery ranged from 16 to 163 days. ZTSJ is effective for the treatment of painful leg ulcers, but the specific mechanism is not clear.