Pitting Edema - measurement

1+
 2mm depression, barely detectable
Immediate rebound
2+
 4mm deep pit
A few seconds to rebound
3+
 6mm deep pit
10-12 seconds to rebound
4+
 8mm: very deep pit
>20 seconds to rebound

Hogan, M (2007) Medical-Surgical Nursing (2nd ed.). Salt Lake City: Prentice Hall

Alternate method:

Press on skin over tibia. Then run pads of fingers over the area pressed and note if there is an indentation. If indentation is noted, repeat, further up the tibia. Note the point at which swelling is no longer present (distance above malleolus).

The Lippincott Manual of Nursing Practice. (3rd ed.). Lippincott Williams and Wilkins, Philadelphia. p.36