[Summary of the practice guideline 'Venous leg ulcer' from the Dutch College of General Practitioners].

The practice guideline 'Venous leg ulcer' from the Dutch College of General Practitioners provides recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of venous leg ulcer by the general practitioner. When counseling the patient it is important to make clear that the healing process can take a long time. Compression therapy remains the most important treatment for venous leg ulcer; it also reduces recurrence rates. The choice of wound dressing is dependent on the wound phase, the degree of moisture in the wound and the infection grade. In some patients the recurrence rate can be further reduced by treating any varices that are present. Referral to secondary care is rarely necessary. The practice guideline is very similar to the multidisciplinary guideline on this matter; the differences concern small details.