Douleurs des membres inférieurs et des extrémités

Abstract

Pains of the lower limbs may be of multiple origin, with sometimes intricate causes. When gangrene is present the arterial origin is beyond doubt. The diagnosis is more difficult when cutaneous ulceration appears. Venous or arterial disease, microcirculation abnormality must be ruled out. Even if amyotrophia suggests a neurological origin or if the joint stiffness suggests an osteoarticular origin, there is a lot of traps such as a painful oedema of the ankle that may be caused by an algodystrophia rather than by a venous insufficiency.