A wound on a patient's lower limb due to arterial insufficiency is MOST likely associated with which of the following characteristics?

• A. Intermittent claudication, absent pedal pulses, deep wound bed
• B. Significant edema, palpable pedal pulses, and substantial drainage
• C. Intermittent claudication, absent pedal pulses, and substantial drainage
• D. Significant edema, palpable pedal pulses, shallow wound bed

Answer: (A)

A wound from arterial insufficiency shows ischemic signs: pain with activity, weak or absent distal pulses, and a wound that tends to be deeper with little drainage and a dry or necrotic bed. The scenario that matches this best is the one describing intermittent claudication (pain with walking), absent pedal pulses, and a deep wound bed. These features together reflect poor blood flow to the lower limb, which causes muscle pain on exertion, reduced arterial inflow leading to absent pulses, and tissue loss that creates a deeper, non-bleeding wound bed.

The other patterns don’t fit arterial disease as well. Edema and substantial drainage point more toward venous insufficiency, especially when pulses are still present and the wound bed is shallow. A combination of edema, preserved pulses, and a shallow wound bed also suggests better perfusion or non-arterial etiologies.