Help to transform our extraordinary hospital into something even better.
View: 2635
Download: 7
Heel pressure sores are a big problem after a surgery or any situation where a child is unable to move about in bed.
They can affect the lower back, heels, and toes.
Lying still for too long causes pressure on the bone of the heel or any bony contact point which squashes the skin.
If this is not relieved, it will cause tissue damage leading to a pressure sore.
They only take a few hours to happen but can take many months to heal so prevention is much better than cure.
Children with plaster casts or splints on their legs are even more at risk as we cannot see their heels. The plaster or splint is harder than the mattress, so there is even more pressure on the heel when it is lying on a surface.
If you feel that your child is affected by one or more of the issues discussed in this resource in particular:
Contact your specialist healthcare team or the Tissue Viability Specialist Nurse via switchboard on 0114 271 7000
Email Tissue Viability: scn.tr.schtissueviability@nhs.net
Your general practitioner (GP) or specialist healthcare team can refer your child to Tissue Viability at Sheffield Children’s Hospital if you and your child need further support.
If you think there is an issue with the plaster cast please contact the plaster room via switchboard on 011 427 17538
Please note: this is a generic information sheet relating to care at Sheffield Children’s NHS FT. These details may not reflect treatment at other hospitals. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Always follow your healthcare professionals’ instructions. If this resource relates to medicines, please read it alongside the medicine manufacturer’s patient information leaflet. If this information has been translated into another language from English, efforts have been made to maintain accuracy, but there may still be some translation errors. If you are unsure about any of the guidance in this resource or have specific questions about how it relates to your child, always ask your healthcare professional for further advice.
Resource number: ORP24
Resource Type: Article
Western Bank
Sheffield
S10 2TH
United Kingdom
Switchboard: 0114 271 7000
We’ve got a special MRI scanner just for teddies so children can see what it’s like before they have a scan.
Help to transform our extraordinary hospital into something even better.