A comparison between the use of intravenous bags and the Heelift suspension boot to prevent pressure ulcers in orthopedic patients.

The heel is the second most common area where patients develop pressure ulcers (PrUs). Some of the interventions commonly used today to prevent PrUs have not been empirically tested, whereas other interventions have been studied and shown to prevent heel PrUs. Currently, there are no specific studies comparing a pressure-relieving suspension boot with the use of intravenous bags. This quasi-experimental study compared the use of these interventions to determine which intervention was more effective for heel-pressure relief. The target population consisted of a convenience sample of 30 patients admitted to the hospital for hip or knee surgery. Subjects were randomized to intravenous bags or pressure-relieving suspension boots. Daily pressure assessment of heels and the Achilles area was completed using validated pressure scales. Data were analyzed using the SPSS statistical program and were then used to determine the extent to which signs and symptoms of pressure were associated with each intervention. The results demonstrated a significant difference between the pressure-relieving suspension boot and the intravenous bag as heel-pressure-relief methods. Based on the statistical results of this study, the pressure-relieving suspension boot (Heelift; DM Systems Inc, Evanston, Illinois) was the better clinical intervention for patients with decreased mobility.