DPM Vascular & Neurological Conditions of the Lower Extremity Flashcards

What ankle-brachial index (ABI) value is diagnostic of peripheral arterial disease?

Answer: ABI < 0.9

An ABI below 0.9 indicates peripheral arterial disease, with values below 0.4 suggesting critical limb ischemia.

Which symptom is the classic hallmark of intermittent claudication?

Answer: Calf cramping with walking that resolves with rest

Intermittent claudication is reproducible muscle pain (often calf) that occurs with walking and is relieved by rest due to inadequate arterial supply during exercise.

Which finding is most indicative of critical limb ischemia?

Answer: Rest pain in the foot and ischemic ulceration or gangrene

Critical limb ischemia is defined by ischemic rest pain and/or tissue loss (ulceration or gangrene) due to severely reduced arterial perfusion.

What is Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease?

Answer: An inherited peripheral neuropathy causing distal muscle weakness and sensory loss

CMT is the most common inherited peripheral neuropathy, causing progressive distal weakness, sensory loss, and foot deformities such as pes cavus.

Which nerve entrapment syndrome causes burning pain radiating to the heel and arch from behind the medial malleolus?

Answer: Tarsal tunnel syndrome

Tarsal tunnel syndrome results from compression of the posterior tibial nerve within the tarsal tunnel behind the medial malleolus, causing burning and tingling in the plantar foot.

In peripheral arterial disease, which lifestyle modification has the strongest evidence for improving walking distance?

Answer: Supervised aerobic exercise therapy

Supervised exercise rehabilitation is the most effective non-surgical intervention to increase pain-free walking distance in PAD patients.