Purpose: To determine whether application of a silicone foam dressing is associated with decreased interface pressures when applied to the heel.
Design: Prospective, within-subjects design.
Subjects and setting: The study was conducted in a community-based hospital using a convenience sample of 50 healthy volunteers with a mean age of 39.6 years and mean body mass index of 26.6; 70% were female.
Methods: Application of the silicone border foam dressing was randomized between the left and right heels. Participants were asked to lie down in the supine position on a viscoelastic foam mattress. Interface pressure measurements were captured using a pressure mapping system; measurements were taken once with the dressing applied to the heel (intervention map) and once without (control map). Data were captured after a 4-minute time period allowing stabilization. Analysis was based on mean interface pressure; data points were collected for both heels in each of the 2 frames, yielding 4 observations per subject.
Results: Application of the dressing was associated with a significant decrease in average pressure measurements as compared to the heel with no dressing applied (P < .001). Application of the dressing did not impact pressure readings for the heel to which no dressing was applied (P = .53), and application of the dressing to either the left or right heel did not impact pressure readings (ie, the random effect was insignificant; P = .9).
Conclusions: Application of a silicone border foam dressing is associated with significant reduction in interface pressure and may be considered as part of a pressure ulcer prevention program.