Arterial Ulcers.

Arterial ulcers form when narrowed arteries starve the foot or lower leg of blood. They tend to sit on toes, heels, or the outside of the ankle, look punched-out with pale or dark edges, and hurt badly, often worst at night or with the leg raised. They are the wounds most likely to threaten the limb itself, which is why we treat them inside our limb preservation frame.

Bedside care focuses on protecting the wound, managing pain, avoiding the mistakes that make arterial wounds worse, compression is one of them, and getting the person in front of vascular care early. Our job between specialist visits is surveillance: documented status, photographs, and a fast call to the referring physician when anything changes.

A painful, punched-out sore on a toe, heel, or ankle. A foot that is cool, pale, or shiny. Leg pain that eases when the leg hangs down. Any wound in a person already told they have poor circulation.