Plain-English explanations of the technical terms and legislation used in this document.
- ABPI
- A comparison of the blood pressure at the ankle with that in the arm, used to check the blood supply to the leg.
- Biothesiometer
- A device that measures how much vibration a patient can feel, as a test of nerve function.
- Capillary refill
- Pressing the skin and timing how quickly the colour returns, as a quick check of blood supply.
- Claudication
- Cramping pain in the leg brought on by walking and relieved by resting.
- Critical limb ischaemia
- Severely reduced blood supply causing pain at rest, wounds that will not heal, or tissue death.
- Doppler
- A handheld device that listens to blood flow in the arteries.
- Dorsalis pedis
- An artery on the top of the foot where a pulse can usually be felt.
- Monofilament
- A small nylon filament pressed against the foot to test whether the patient can feel it.
- Monophasic
- A Doppler sound with one phase instead of the usual three, suggesting narrowed arteries.
- Posterior tibial
- An artery behind the inner ankle bone where a pulse can usually be felt.
- Protective sensation
- Enough feeling in the foot to notice damage and react to it.
- Rest pain
- Pain in the foot when not walking, often worse at night, which suggests a serious circulation problem.
- TBPI
- A blood pressure comparison using the toe rather than the ankle, more reliable when the ankle arteries are hardened.
- Triphasic
- The normal three-part Doppler sound of a healthy artery.