Treatment of varicose ulcer of the lower limbs by surgery and Unna boot: savings for the Brazilian healthcare system.

OBJECTIVE To perform an analysis of the costs of treatment of varicose ulcers by radical surgery of varices and the use of Unna boot. METHODS Fifteen outpatients were selected to receive treatment of varicose ulcers with radical surgery and Unna boot. The total cost of treatment was calculated (hospitalization, surgery, dressings, and outpatient's follow-up visits) and compared to the cost of clinical follow-up with daily simple dressing changes. RESULTS The proposed treatment was on average 55.71% more economical than the management with daily dressings (approximately US$452.32 versus US$1,021.39). CONCLUSION Radical varicose vein surgery associated with the use of the Unna boot proved meaningly less expensive for the public health system than clinical follow-up with daily dressings.