Condition |
Clinical Presentation |
Diagnostics |
Treatment |
Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) |
Unilateral leg swelling, pain, redness, warmth; Homan's sign may be positive. |
Compression ultrasonography, D-dimer test, venography (gold standard). |
Anticoagulation (e.g., heparin, warfarin), thrombolysis in severe cases, compression stockings for prevention. |
Cellulitis |
Red, swollen, and tender skin; usually with systemic symptoms such as fever. |
Clinical diagnosis; blood cultures if systemic infection is suspected, wound cultures if open sores are present. |
Oral or intravenous antibiotics (e.g., cephalexin, clindamycin); elevation of the affected leg. |
Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) |
Intermittent claudication, weak or absent pulses, cool, pale skin; pain worsens with elevation. |
Ankle-brachial index (ABI), Doppler ultrasound, angiography. |
Antiplatelet agents, statins, lifestyle changes (e.g., smoking cessation, exercise), revascularization in severe cases. |
Venous Insufficiency |
Chronic swelling, aching, and heaviness in legs; varicose veins, skin changes (e.g., hyperpigmentation, stasis dermatitis). |
Clinical evaluation, duplex ultrasound. |
Compression stockings, leg elevation, exercise, sclerotherapy, or vein stripping in severe cases. |
Lymphedema |
Painless or mildly painful swelling, often pitting initially; skin changes (e.g., thickening, hyperkeratosis) in chronic cases. |
Clinical diagnosis, lymphoscintigraphy, MRI or CT if secondary lymphedema is suspected. |
Compression therapy, manual lymphatic drainage, exercise, skin care. |
Baker’s Cyst |
Posterior knee swelling and pain; may rupture, causing calf swelling and mimic DVT. |
Ultrasound, MRI if needed to rule out other conditions. |
Aspiration, corticosteroid injections, physical therapy, surgical removal if recurrent. |
Trauma (e.g., Fractures, Muscle Tears) |
Localized pain, swelling, bruising, decreased range of motion; history of injury. |
X-ray, MRI or CT for soft tissue injury. |
Immobilization, rest, ice, compression, elevation (RICE); surgery if severe. |
Gout |
Acute onset of severe pain, swelling, redness, warmth, often affecting the big toe but can involve the knee or ankle. |
Joint aspiration and fluid analysis for urate crystals, serum uric acid levels. |
NSAIDs, colchicine, corticosteroids; long-term management with urate-lowering therapy (e.g., allopurinol). |
Septic Arthritis |
Severe joint pain, swelling, warmth, fever, limited range of motion; often monoarticular. |
Joint aspiration and fluid analysis, blood cultures, imaging (X-ray, MRI). |
Intravenous antibiotics, joint drainage, surgical intervention if needed. |
Necrotizing Fasciitis |
Rapidly spreading infection, severe pain out of proportion to physical findings, skin changes (e.g., erythema, blisters, necrosis), systemic symptoms (fever, tachycardia). |
Clinical diagnosis, confirmed with surgical exploration, imaging (CT/MRI) may show fascial plane involvement, blood cultures. |
Immediate surgical debridement, broad-spectrum intravenous antibiotics, supportive care in intensive care settings. |