Toe Pressure Assessment in Lower Limb Wound Care
Summary: 2025 document from Wound Canada provides guidelines for toe pressure assessment in lower limb wound care. Technique: Photoplethysmography (PPG) or strain-gauge; measures systolic pressure in great toe. Interpretation: Normal >60 mmHg; 30–60 mmHg moderate ischemia; <30 mmHg critical (high amputation risk). Role: Complements ABI (less affected by calcification), detects distal disease in diabetes/PAD, stratifies DFU/CLI risk, guides referral (vascular specialist if low). Benefits: Non-invasive, bedside, reliable in calcified vessels. Recommendations: Routine in high-risk patients, serial monitoring, integration into multidisciplinary pathways. Supports timely intervention to preserve limbs.
Keywords: toe pressure, lower limb wounds, CLI risk, vascular assessment