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Colour

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

Colour changes due to ischaemia are best assessed at the extreme periphery i.e. the foot and toes.

The foot may be:

  • red and cool:
    • redness indicates that oxygenated blood is present in the capillaries
    • a severely ischaemic foot may be paradoxically red due to reactive hyperaemia, a physiological attempt to extract the maximum amount of oxygen from the compromised blood flow

  • white and cool:
    • ischaemic skin is initially pale
    • arteriolar vasoconstriction is a normal response to cold, if this is the case peripheral pulses should be present

  • dusky purple - early necrosis:
    • haemoglobin is deoxygenated in the skin capillaries
    • initially the colour will blanch with pressure
    • as necrosis progresses the capillary walls break down and blanching ceases

  • black - established gangrene
    • blood flow has ceased
    • the area does not blanch

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The content herein is provided for informational purposes and does not replace the need to apply professional clinical judgement when diagnosing or treating any medical condition. A licensed medical practitioner should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.

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