Skin temperature and chronic venous insufficiency.

Objective: This study compared lower leg skin temperatures in adults age 50 years and older with and without chronic venous insufficiency (CVI). Norms and ranges of skin temperature were also established.

Design: A descriptive comparative design was used.

Setting And Subjects: Sixty-six adults recruited from hospital clinics and senior community dwellings participated in the study, which was conducted in an examination room of an outpatient clinic. To be included in the study, those with CVI showed stage 4 and 5 clinical signs. Those without CVI had no clinical signs.

Instruments: Skin temperature was measured with an infrared dermal thermometer.

Methods: Subjects were seated with legs extended, free of clothing and socks, and loosely covered with a draped sheet for 10 minutes to acclimatize to room temperature. The skin temperature of 4 sites on the lower legs was measured. Analysis of variance and independent t tests were used to compare groups.

Results: There was a significant increase in skin temperature at all 4 sites in the ankle area in the group with CVI compared with the comparison group (89.9 degrees F +/- 2.7 degrees F versus 88.1 degrees F +/- 2.1 degrees F, P =.004).

Conclusions: Elevated skin temperature may be an important nursing assessment parameter to evaluate worsening or impending CVI complications such as venous ulcers.