Calf Swelling: Examination

A comprehensive clinical examination is the basis for selecting further diagnostic steps:

  • General physical examination – including blood pressure, pulse, body temperature, body weight, body height; further:
    • Inspection (viewing).
      • Skin (normal: intact; abrasions/wounds, redness, hematomas (bruises), scars) and mucous membranes.
      • Gait (fluid, limping).
      • Body or joint posture (upright, bent, gentle posture).
      • Joint (abrasions/wounds, swelling (tumor), redness (rubor), hyperthermia (calor); injury indications such as hematoma formation).
      • Extremities (including measurement of lower leg circumference bilaterally).
        • In arterial thrombosis: [partial/complete ischemia (reduced blood flow), localized peripheral cyanosis (blue coloration of the skin)]
        • In venous thrombosis: [fever, inflammation, hyperthermia, swelling, light bluish discoloration, pain in the area of the affected veins]
    • Inspection and palpation (palpation) of the calf and Achilles tendon [Achilles tendon rupture: dent palpable above the heel?]
    • Assessment of pain on movement, range of motion, resilience, muscle strength (toe stand single legged).
    • Auscultation (listening) of the heart.

Square brackets [ ] indicate possible pathological (pathological) physical findings.

Note