In: Nursing
A 25-year-old woman presents for evaluation of spontaneous discoloration of her toes. Aside from the appearance of her toes, she does not have additional complaints. The patient is a graduate student currently taking courses online. She has no history of systemic disease, and she denies illicit drug use. Other than a transient throat irritation, she denies recent fever, night sweats, cough, diarrhea, or loss of taste or smell. Examination reveals a reddish-purple discoloration of all toes. Performed a history of musculoskeletal problem, document subjective and objective finding, and identify the actual or potential risk factors for the client based on the assessment findings with description or reason for selection of them.
Reddish- purple discoloration of the skin can be because of many reasons such as
Bruses or blood flow
Brusing can be due to underline deseases such as blunt trauma , injury or drawing blood. Blood reaches the feet through a network of arteries which are the blood vessele that carry blood from the heart. When the circulation of the feet is healthy , cuts heal quickly andd skin returns its natural colour. In Bruises that temporaraly turned part of the skin a shade of black , blue or purple.
Ischemic Foot
Ischemea refers to a reduction in healthy blood flow in one or more arteries. If it happends in the foot causes Ischemic Foot.
Acrocyanosis
It is Also due to the reduction of blood flow in the arteries of the feet which leads to blue or purple skin of the foot.
Raynaud's Disease
It is a similar condition to acrocyanosis. which are often triggered by cold whether and causes blue or red light purple skin. Raynaud's affects the smaller blood vessels in the tose and larger arteries of the feet.
Frostbite
Frosbite occurs when the skin is esposed to severe cold. Cold temprature can reduce cerculation in the feet. Superficial frostbite can turn skin red and hard and deep frostbite can turned skin purple.