Heel pressure relieving devices how effective are they?

This study of patients hospitalized for hip replacement or treatment of hip dislocation or fractured neck or shaft of the femur compared the efficacy of three approaches to the care of the patients' heels. A control group of 15 patients received routine nursing care and treatment groups of 15 and 20 patients received routine nursing care combined with the use of hydrocolloid dressing and eggcrate foam respectively. The combination of routine nursing care and the use of eggcrate foam was found to be more effective method of maintaining skin integrity than nursing care alone or nursing care combined with the use of hydrocolloid dressing. The study findings support the use of eggcrate foam as a heel pressure relieving device and it is recommended that its use is initiated from the time patients are admitted to hospital.