Journal Articles

Prophylactic dressing use to prevent heel ulceration in post-epidural orthopaedic patients

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Prophylactic dressing use to prevent heel ulceration in post-epidural orthopaedic patients

Carol Johnson, Caroline Renwick, Donna Colledge, Joanne Parkinson, Kathryn Burn
22 March 2018

The absence of pressure injury remains a key indicator of care; as with many disease processes, prevention is better than management. In recent years, the concept of prophylactic pressure ulcer prevention using dressings has gained traction. This article reports a small quality assurance study undertaken on an orthopaedic ward, where dressings were used prophylactically on the heels of patients who had undergone surgery under spinal anaesthesia. Results showed that in the study group (n=87), no tissue damage occurred during the wear time or whilst in hospital, whereas in the comparator group, 12 patients (18.75%) went on to develop category 2 heel pressure ulcers during the same period.

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