Edema Exam
Aka: Edema Exam, Edema Evaluation, Pitting Edema, Brawny Edema, Dependent Edema, Non-Pitting Edema (Non-pitting edema C1265804), Peripheral Edema
II. Exam: Pitting Edema
- Technique
- Examiner impresses thumb into skin over bony surface
- Tibia
- Fibula
- Sacrum
- Withdraw thumb
- Measure depth of pit and record in millimeters (1-4 plus Pitting Edema)
- Examiner impresses thumb into skin over bony surface
- Interpretation
- Pitting Edema
- Non-Pitting Edema (Brawny Edema)
- Myxedema
- Chronic inflammation
- Chronic Venous Stasis
III. Exam: Edema Distribution and Characteristics
- Dependent Edema (fluid shift in response to gravity)
- Standing patient accumulates fluid in feet and ankles
- Bed-bound patient collects fluid posteriorly (Sacrum)
- Chronic Leg Edema (Brawny Edema)
- Tissue becomes fibrotic and fails to pit
- Stemmer’s Sign
- Attempt to pinch and lift skinfold at the base of the second toe (or middle finger)
- Negative (able to pinch skin)
- Does not completely exclude Lymphedema (especially if recent onset), but is more suggestive of other edema cause
- No swelling at base of digit is more consistent with Chronic Venous Insufficiency
- Pitting swelling of the base of digit is more suggestive of CHF, Nephrotic Syndrome, Cirrhosis or other similar edema
- Positive (unable to pinch skin)
- Pathognomonic for Lymphedema