Many people are familiar with coronary artery disease, in which the coronary arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle become narrowed and eventually affect the heart and breathing, which can lead to a heart attack. A less well known, but very common problem is peripheral vascular disease (PVD) where the arteries throughout the body narrow, causing many serious problems including stroke.
How do blocked arteries affect bone healing? Proper bone healing, either from a fracture or a chronic condition, requires a good supply of blood, oxygen and nutrients. If the blood flow to a bone is diminished due to PVD, the bone will not have the best chance to heal.
The various problems that can be caused by PVD include stroke, digestive or kidney problems, aneurysms and something called intermittent claudication or painful cramping when walking. Since so many orthopedic problems are rooted in the legs and feet, patients with PVD in the legs need to address all of the symptoms of both conditions. Individuals who experience these types of symptoms may see a vascular surgeon or cardiologist in addition to an orthopedic surgeon or podiatrist.