Author: A. Chandrasekhar, MD
Observe for edema of the foot, ankles and legs.
Gently compress the patient's soft tissue with your thumb over both shins for a few minutes.
Observe for indentation.
Note: In bed-ridden patients, examine for edema over the sacral and coccygeal areas.
Normal:
Normally, there is no indentation.
To understand what might be causing your edema, your doctor will perform a physical exam and ask you questions about your medical history. This information is often enough to determine the underlying cause of your edema. In some cases, X-rays, ultrasound exams, blood tests or urine analysis may be necessary.