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Buerger's disease (thromboangiitis obliterans)

Thromboangiitis obliterans (morbus Buerger) · Buergerova nemoc (thrombangiitis obliterans)

What it is

Inflammation that clots the small arteries of hands and feet, almost only in smokers; without stopping tobacco completely, fingers and toes are lost.

Symptoms & signs

  • Cold, pale or blue fingers and toes
  • pain in the feet on walking
  • pain at rest
  • ulcers and gangrene of toes or fingertips
  • tender red cords on veins

🚩 Get help if…

  • call 112 / 911 now A cold, pale, painful finger or toe
  • call 112 / 911 now Black skin on a finger or toe
  • see a doctor soon Pain in the foot or hand at rest, worse at night
  • see a doctor soon An ulcer on a finger or toe that will not heal

Where it strikes

Medical treatment

  • Stop all tobacco, including nicotine replacement and cannabis
  • iloprost infusion
  • pain relief and wound care
  • sympathectomy
  • amputation for gangrene

Natural & lifestyle

  • Complete abstinence from tobacco
  • keep hands and feet warm
  • foot care

Emerging & experimental

  • Stem-cell injections into the limb
  • gene therapy with growth factors

Alternative, off-label & anecdotal

Approaches used outside the guidelines, with what their supporters report and what testing has found so far.

  • Hyperbaric oxygen — small studies heal ulcers early / small studies
  • Herbal circulation remedies — anecdotal; only stopping tobacco saves the limb anecdotal / traditional
  • Spinal cord stimulation — small studies ease rest pain early / small studies

ICD codes