If this is a life-threatening emergency, call 911 immediately.

Chest pain, severe difficulty breathing, stroke symptoms, major bleeding, or loss of consciousness require emergency medical services. This page describes non-emergency care delivered at home by skilled nurses.

Wound Care

Arterial Ulcers

Arterial ulcer treatment at home in southeast Texas. Specialized wound care for wounds caused by poor arterial circulation.

Understanding Arterial Ulcers

What you should know

Arterial ulcers develop when inadequate blood supply to the legs (peripheral arterial disease) prevents tissue from receiving enough oxygen and nutrients. Unlike venous ulcers, which tend to be shallow and on the inner ankle, arterial ulcers are often found on the toes, feet, and outer ankle, and are typically deeper, more painful, and slower to heal.

Arterial ulcers are the most challenging chronic wounds to manage because the underlying blood supply issue limits the body's ability to heal. Treatment must address both the wound itself and the vascular disease causing it. Some patients require vascular intervention (angioplasty, bypass surgery) to restore blood flow before wound healing can proceed.

Our wound care nurses provide meticulous wound care while monitoring perfusion status (pulses, skin temperature, capillary refill). We coordinate closely with vascular surgeons because wound care alone — without adequate blood supply — cannot heal these wounds. Compression is typically contraindicated (unlike venous ulcers), making accurate wound classification essential.

Warning signs

You may need care if…

Painful wound on the toes, foot, or outer ankle

Well-demarcated wound edges with a pale or necrotic wound bed

Pain that worsens with leg elevation and improves with dangling

Cool, pale skin on the affected leg or foot

Weak or absent pedal pulses

History of peripheral arterial disease, smoking, or diabetes

Your care plan

How we help at home

Careful wound care appropriate for arterially-compromised tissue — gentle debridement, moisture-retentive dressings

Perfusion assessment at every visit — pulses, skin temperature, capillary refill

Coordination with vascular surgeons for revascularization assessment

Pain management — arterial ulcers are often very painful

Patient education on smoking cessation, foot protection, and activity

Monitoring for infection, which is particularly dangerous in poorly perfused tissue

Arterial Ulcers — compassionate in-home care

Expert care for arterial ulcers,
delivered to your home

Our clinicians bring hospital-level expertise to the comfort and safety of where you live.

Common questions

Arterial Ulcers — Common Questions

Arterial ulcers are caused by insufficient blood supply (not enough blood getting to the tissue), while venous ulcers are caused by blood pooling (blood not getting back out). The distinction matters enormously for treatment — compression therapy that helps venous ulcers can actually worsen arterial ulcers by further restricting blood flow. Accurate assessment by a skilled wound care nurse is essential.

Small arterial ulcers in patients with mild PAD may heal with wound care and risk factor management alone. However, many arterial ulcers require vascular intervention to restore adequate blood flow before healing can occur. Our nurses assess wound progress and escalate to vascular surgery when the wound isn't responding to conservative management.

Related services

Services involved in your care

These are the clinical services our team may use when managing arterial ulcers at home.

Wound Care

Specialized wound care management for chronic, surgical, and complex wounds using evidence-based treatment protocols.

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Skilled Nursing Care

Our registered nurses provide comprehensive medical care in the comfort of your home, ensuring safety, comfort, and optimal health outcomes.

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Cardiovascular Care

Comprehensive cardiac care management for patients with heart disease, hypertension, and other cardiovascular conditions.

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Wound Care conditions

Related conditions we treat

We provide in-home care for a range of wound care conditions. Explore related specialties below.

Diabetic Ulcers

Diabetic ulcer treatment at home in southeast Texas. Specialized wound care, offloading, and blood sugar management to heal diabetic wounds.

Venous Ulcers

Venous ulcer treatment at home in southeast Texas. Compression therapy, wound care, and skin management for venous leg ulcers.

Pressure Ulcers (Bedsores)

Pressure ulcer treatment at home in southeast Texas. Wound care, prevention strategies, and skilled nursing for bedsores and pressure injuries.

Get help with arterial ulcers at home

Our experienced clinicians provide expert wound care care in the comfort of your home. Contact us today to discuss your needs.

For life-threatening emergencies, always call 911.