Foot Care Nursing Cheat Sheet: Abnormal Findings Flashcards

A collection of vocabulary flashcards covering structural abnormalities, soft tissue pathologies, and nail pathologies of the foot, along with urgent referral criteria.

Bunion (Hallux Valgus)

A bony bump at the base of the great toe characterized by lateral deviation of the toe and medial deviation of the first metatarsal.

Mallet Toes

A toe deformity involving fixed flexion at the distal interphalangeal (DIP) joint only, while the proximal joint remains straight.

Hammer Toes

A toe deformity featuring fixed flexion at the proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint, often accompanied by hyperextension at the MTP joint.

Claw Toes

A toe deformity combining flexion at both the PIP and DIP joints with hyperextension at the MTP joint, resulting in a curled appearance.

Flat Foot (Pes Planus)

A condition where the medial longitudinal arch of the foot is reduced or absent, causing the sole to sit closer to the ground.

High Arch (Pes Cavus)

A condition featuring an abnormally elevated medial longitudinal arch, often associated with claw toes and lateral foot overload.

Callous (Tyloma)

A diffuse area of thickened, hardened skin that develops in response to repeated pressure or friction, lacking a discrete core.

Hard Corn (Heloma Durum)

A small, well-defined area of thickened skin with a dense central keratin core, typically forming over a bony prominence on the dorsum or tip of toes.

Soft Corn (Heloma Molle)

A macerated, rubbery lesion that forms in a moist interdigital web space where adjacent toe bones rub together.

Seed Corn

Multiple small, discrete keratotic plugs that appear in non-weight-bearing areas of the plantar skin, believed to be related to blocked sweat ducts.

Plantar Warts (Verruca Plantaris)

A viral skin lesion caused by HPV that disrupts normal skin lines and contains tiny, thrombosed capillaries (black pinpoints).

Athlete's Foot (Tinea Pedis)

A superficial fungal (dermatophyte) infection of the skin, commonly affecting the interdigital spaces and thriving in warm, moist environments.

Involuted Toenails

A nail variant where the lateral edges curl inward over the nail bed without breaking the skin.

Ingrown Toenails (Onychocryptosis)

A condition where the nail border penetrates the surrounding soft tissue, often leading to inflammation and infection.

Fungal Toenails (Onychomycosis)

A fungal infection of the nail plate and bed causing discoloration (yellow/brown), thickening, and crumbling of the nail.

Onychophosis

A build-up of hyperkeratotic, callus-like tissue within the nail groove (sulcus), usually caused by chronic friction.

Ram's Horn Toenails (Onychogryphosis)

A severe nail deformity marked by gross thickening and curving of the nail plate, often resulting from long-standing neglect or trauma.

Acute Charcot changes

An urgent clinical finding characterized by a hot, red, swollen foot with intact skin in a neuropathic patient.

Gangrene

Any black or necrotic tissue, which can be classified as dry or wet and requires immediate referral.

Acute limb ischemia

An emergency condition presenting as a sudden onset of a cold, pale, and pulseless foot accompanied by pain.